Arrivals surge on Crete
More than 220 migrants arrived on Crete and Gavdos from Libya within 24 hours, Greek authorities said Friday, amid a 310% rise in arrivals to Crete this year.
Between Thursday night and Friday evening, the coast guard intercepted four boats: one carrying 25 migrants to Kaloi Limenes, 73 people to Sfakia, 56 to Gavdos, and 61 to Palaiochora. Most were from Egypt and Sudan.
Officials reported another vessel late Friday with an unknown number of passengers.
According to Kathimerini, migrants were transferred to a temporary facility in Agia, Hania, where 342 people have been held since August 15. Local authorities have requested transfers to mainland Greece, while detainees protested harsh conditions by refusing meals.
The arrivals come as Greece implements stricter migration policies.
A new directive from Migration Minister Thanos Plevris replaces “irregular migration” with “illegal migration” in official documents, mandates up to 24 months’ detention for rejected asylum seekers, and sets prison sentences of two to five years for those staying illegally.
Officials say voluntary return is the only way to avoid imprisonment. New laws also require all new arrivals to be placed in closed facilities, even asylum applicants, who cannot file claims for a month under current rules.
