Summary
Greece is holding migrants on the island of Crete before moving them to other facilities on the mainland. The country has temporarily stopped allowing new arrivals to apply for asylum, citing an emergency situation, and plans to detain and send back anyone arriving illegally.
Key Facts
- Migrants arriving in Crete from North Africa, including Libya, cannot apply for asylum and are moved to closed facilities on the mainland.
- The right to apply for asylum is part of EU and international law, as well as Greek law, but Greece has suspended this right for at least three months.
- Greek Migration Minister Thanos Plevris has declared a state of emergency, describing the situation as an "invasion."
- Over 7,000 migrants have arrived in Crete from January to late June 2023, which is more than three times the number compared to 2024.
- The migration route from Libya to Crete has become the main path in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- The Greek government has announced that all migrants entering the country illegally will be detained.
- Migrants in detention facilities report poor living conditions, such as inadequate access to water, clothing, and hygiene supplies.
