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Migrant 'chaos' on Greek islands - UN refugee agency Migrant 'chaos' on Greek islands - UN refugee agency
(about 2 hours later)
The refugee crisis on three Greek islands near Turkey is "total chaos", the UN refugee agency UNHCR says. The refugee crisis on the Greek islands of Kos, Chios and Lesbos is "total chaos", the UN refugee agency UNHCR says, with inadequate accommodation, water and sanitation.
Accommodation, water and sanitation are all inadequate for the many asylum seekers on Kos, Chios and Lesbos, the UNHCR says, calling it "shameful". Around 50,000 people arrived in Greece in July alone, the organisation says.
Greek PM Alexis Tsipras said the problem "surpasses" Greece's abilities and asked for EU help. Greece's leader said the country was unable to cope, and called for EU help.
Separately, Italian police arrested five suspected traffickers over the deaths of about 200 people after a migrant boat sank on Wednesday.
They included two Libyans, two Algerians and a Tunisian, held on suspicion of multiple murder and people trafficking.
Survivors have said that traffickers used knives to slash the heads of African migrants and belts to thrash Arabs to keep them in the hull.
In other developments:
The UNHCR says nearly all new arrivals in Greece are refugees from the wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.The UNHCR says nearly all new arrivals in Greece are refugees from the wars in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan.
The organisation's European Director, Vincent Cochetel, said facilities for the refugees on the Greek islands were "totally inadequate", after a 750% increase in migrants arriving this year, compared with the same period last year. The organisation's European Director, Vincent Cochetel, said facilities for the refugees on the Greek islands were "totally inadequate", after more migrants arrived in Greece in July 2015 than in the whole of the previous year.
He said 124,000 had arrived in Greece so far in 2015, including 50,000 in July alone.
Greece's EU partners must do more to ease the burden, he said, but Greece must "lead and co-ordinate".Greece's EU partners must do more to ease the burden, he said, but Greece must "lead and co-ordinate".
"On most of the islands there is no reception capacity, people are not sleeping under any form of roof. So it's total chaos on the islands."On most of the islands there is no reception capacity, people are not sleeping under any form of roof. So it's total chaos on the islands.
"After a couple of days they are transferred to Athens, there is nothing waiting for them in Athens," he complained."After a couple of days they are transferred to Athens, there is nothing waiting for them in Athens," he complained.
Mr Tsipras said Greece's economic crisis meant it was facing a humanitarian "crisis within a crisis". Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said the problem "surpasses" Greece's abilities, and that his country's economic problems meant it was facing a humanitarian "crisis within a crisis".
In Austria, the authorities have stopped taking in any more migrants at the country's main reception camp, 20km (12 miles) south of Vienna. Save the Children says refugee children are at risk of exploitation and disease in Greece because of the lack of facilities.
Another UNHCR official described conditions at Traiskirchen as "intolerable, dangerous and inhumane". "The risk to a child forced to sleep on the street of being abused, or of a baby dying of heatstroke, is very real," said Kitty Arie from the charity.
"This is Europe in 2015. We can't leave these children in this desperate situation."
Separately, another UNHCR official described conditions at Austria's main reception camp, 20km (12 miles) south of Vienna, as "intolerable, dangerous and inhumane".
About 4,500 people are at the camp, which was built to house 1,800. Many are now sleeping in the open.About 4,500 people are at the camp, which was built to house 1,800. Many are now sleeping in the open.
Most arrived in Austria via neighbouring Hungary - both EU member states and both in the border-free Schengen zone, where passports are generally not checked.Most arrived in Austria via neighbouring Hungary - both EU member states and both in the border-free Schengen zone, where passports are generally not checked.
A deadly week EU border agency Frontex says it has not received enough pledges of assets from EU states to help Greece and Hungary with the current influx of migrants.
Meanwhile the EU is struggling to cope with the thousands of migrants heading for Italy aboard unseaworthy vessels from Libya, where people traffickers are charging huge sums to smuggle them into Europe. Meanwhile, the EU is struggling to cope with the thousands of migrants heading for Italy aboard unseaworthy vessels from Libya, where people traffickers are charging huge sums to smuggle them into Europe.
As many as 200 migrants are feared drowned after a boat reportedly carrying up to 600 people - mostly Syrians - sank off Libya this week. On Thursday, Irish navy ship LÉ Niamh docked in Sicily with 367 migrants - mostly Syrians - who were rescued from Wednesday's sinking.
An Irish navy ship, LÉ Niamh, docked in Sicily on Thursday with 367 migrants who were rescued. The warship also brought 25 victims in coffins.
The EU border agency Frontex also says it has not received enough pledges of assets from EU states to help Greece and Hungary with the current influx of migrants.
Hungary is constructing a border fence, after a surge in migrants travelling up through Serbia from Greece.
Are you on a Greek island affected by the crisis? Are you a resident, a migrant or part of the relief effort there? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with your experiences.
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