Cretan authorities overwhelmed as 2,000 migrants arrive in two days
Cretan authorities are struggling to accommodate the rapidly increasing number of migrants, with nearly 2,000 people arriving on the island over the past two days.
On Monday alone, 963 new arrivals were recorded, bringing the total number of migrants who have reached Crete since the beginning of the year to 9,000, a rise of more than 350% compared to last year.
Testimonies from recent arrivals suggest that an even larger wave of migrants is expected in the coming days.
According to Eleni Zervoudaki, Hania’s deputy mayor for social policy, there is no capacity to host more people.
“We are at the peak of our hosting capacity,” Zervoudaki said, adding that 442 migrants who arrived in Hania last Sunday were transferred back to Rethymno.
Currently, 852 individuals are being housed at the Agia exhibition center in Hania.
“The situation is unmanageable, the numbers exceed our capabilities,” said Nikos Kalogeris, deputy regional governor of Hania.
Kalogeris also asked for government intervention to reduce the arrivals, adding that the temporary accommodation facilities in Crete are inadequate.
