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| Migrant crisis in Kos: The refugees the UK Government has described as a 'swarm' who are threatening Europe's 'standard of living' | Migrant crisis in Kos: The refugees the UK Government has described as a 'swarm' who are threatening Europe's 'standard of living' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| These poignant images show the apparent desperation and sheer relief of refugees after risking their lives to arrive on the shores of the Greek island of Kos. | |
| Dozens of people, including children, crossed the Aegean Sea from Turkey in inflatable boats to arrive on the island just before dawn on Wednesday. | |
| Thousands of migrants, mostly believed to be fleeing war and conflict in Syria, are already camped in poor conditions on the island after making the journey. | Thousands of migrants, mostly believed to be fleeing war and conflict in Syria, are already camped in poor conditions on the island after making the journey. |
| While authorities on the island have been criticised for their treatment of the migrants, political leaders in the UK have also faced a backlash for their description of people arriving in Europe from the Middle East and Africa. | While authorities on the island have been criticised for their treatment of the migrants, political leaders in the UK have also faced a backlash for their description of people arriving in Europe from the Middle East and Africa. |
| Migrants get out of an inflatable boat on a beach on the Greek island of Kos (AFP PHOTO / ANGELOS TZORTZINIS) A young girl gets out of an inflatable boat as migrants arrive on a beach on Kos (AFP PHOTO / ANGELOS TZORTZINIS) | Migrants get out of an inflatable boat on a beach on the Greek island of Kos (AFP PHOTO / ANGELOS TZORTZINIS) A young girl gets out of an inflatable boat as migrants arrive on a beach on Kos (AFP PHOTO / ANGELOS TZORTZINIS) |
| David Cameron was criticised by a human rights group as using "irresponsible, dehumanising" and "extremely inflammatory" language when he described migrants as a "swarm" last month. | David Cameron was criticised by a human rights group as using "irresponsible, dehumanising" and "extremely inflammatory" language when he described migrants as a "swarm" last month. |
| Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond meanwhile was also condemned by a charity after he accused African migrants seeking a better life in Europe of undermining the continent's "standard of living". | Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond meanwhile was also condemned by a charity after he accused African migrants seeking a better life in Europe of undermining the continent's "standard of living". |
| Speaking to the BBC, Mr Hammond also said more should be done to "enhance the physical security of the tunnel" at Calais, warning "there are large numbers of pretty desperate migrants marauding around the area." | Speaking to the BBC, Mr Hammond also said more should be done to "enhance the physical security of the tunnel" at Calais, warning "there are large numbers of pretty desperate migrants marauding around the area." |
| A Syrian refugee strugles to jump off a dinghy while holding his son as they arrive on Kos (REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis) Migrants arrive in an inflatable boat on a beach on the Greek island of Kos (AFP PHOTO / ANGELOS TZORTZINIS) | A Syrian refugee strugles to jump off a dinghy while holding his son as they arrive on Kos (REUTERS/Yannis Behrakis) Migrants arrive in an inflatable boat on a beach on the Greek island of Kos (AFP PHOTO / ANGELOS TZORTZINIS) |
| The UN's special rapporteur on human rights has criticised those who take a "nationalist, populist" approach to the "courageous" migrants at Calais, describing it as tantamount to "racism". | |
| Images taken as migrants arrived on the island of Kos on Wednesday show children as they make their way from the boat while elsewhere, men and women can be seen to celebrate in relief after arriving safely. | Images taken as migrants arrived on the island of Kos on Wednesday show children as they make their way from the boat while elsewhere, men and women can be seen to celebrate in relief after arriving safely. |
| At least two inflatable boats arrived in the Psalidi coastal area, according to the Associated Press. | At least two inflatable boats arrived in the Psalidi coastal area, according to the Associated Press. |
| A migrant is helped out of a dinghy after crossing from Turkey to Kos (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Migrants hug one another after getting out of an inflatable boat on a beach on the Greek island of Kos (ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images) | A migrant is helped out of a dinghy after crossing from Turkey to Kos (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis) Migrants hug one another after getting out of an inflatable boat on a beach on the Greek island of Kos (ANGELOS TZORTZINIS/AFP/Getty Images) |
| Omar Mohammad, a 25-year-old English literature graduate from Aleppo, told the news agency how the three-hour crossing had been his third attempt to reach Greece in four days. | Omar Mohammad, a 25-year-old English literature graduate from Aleppo, told the news agency how the three-hour crossing had been his third attempt to reach Greece in four days. |
| He said on two previous occasions he had been prevented from leaving by Turkish officials. | He said on two previous occasions he had been prevented from leaving by Turkish officials. |
| He said: "I feel good to be here, but I still miss my family." | He said: "I feel good to be here, but I still miss my family." |
| Dirar, another English graduate who crossed with Mohammed's group, described the conditions they had left behind in Syria. | Dirar, another English graduate who crossed with Mohammed's group, described the conditions they had left behind in Syria. |
| He said: "Aleppo is the worst city in the world. There's no electricity, no water, no internet. | He said: "Aleppo is the worst city in the world. There's no electricity, no water, no internet. |
| "My home was destroyed by a rocket blast. | "My home was destroyed by a rocket blast. |
| "I was so happy to be alive that I took a selfie," he said. "From Greece, I will travel through Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary to Germany." | "I was so happy to be alive that I took a selfie," he said. "From Greece, I will travel through Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary to Germany." |
| Struggling to cope with the influx, authorities in Kos have faced criticism after fire extinguishers and batons were used against migrants locked in an old football stadium on Tuesday. | Struggling to cope with the influx, authorities in Kos have faced criticism after fire extinguishers and batons were used against migrants locked in an old football stadium on Tuesday. |
| "MSF is very worried about how the situation is evolving in KOS", MSF director of operations Brice de le Vingne said. | "MSF is very worried about how the situation is evolving in KOS", MSF director of operations Brice de le Vingne said. |
| "What was previously a situation of state inaction is now one of state abuse, with police using increasing heavy-handed force against these vulnerable people." | "What was previously a situation of state inaction is now one of state abuse, with police using increasing heavy-handed force against these vulnerable people." |
| The medical charity, which is providing assistance to refugees, said more than 7,000 people arrived in Kos last month. | The medical charity, which is providing assistance to refugees, said more than 7,000 people arrived in Kos last month. |
| De le Vigne said authorities in Kos are hoping to deter migrants from heading to the island by not offering better living conditions. | De le Vigne said authorities in Kos are hoping to deter migrants from heading to the island by not offering better living conditions. |
| "But the truth is that people fleeing war will keep on coming whether or not the authorities are trying to stop them from doing so," he said. | "But the truth is that people fleeing war will keep on coming whether or not the authorities are trying to stop them from doing so," he said. |
| "One is left to wonder what more the Greek authorities need to rise up to the occasion, take their responsibilities and receive these people humanely and with dignity." | "One is left to wonder what more the Greek authorities need to rise up to the occasion, take their responsibilities and receive these people humanely and with dignity." |