Greece dismisses media reports over 13,000 missing refugees

Greece's migration policy ministry on Thursday dismissed media reports regarding 13,000 refugees and migrants who were allegedly unaccounted for in the past few weeks.

Citing European immigration officials, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday that in recent weeks Greek authorities had lost track of some 13,000 people of the total of 63,000 refugees and migrants who have been stranded in Greece since spring, according to the government's official estimates.

The report, which was reproduced by other media, implied that some of these people may have found ways to slip into other Balkan countries through smuggling networks or have already reached northern Europe despite the closure of borders and the Balkan route last February.

"The reports are baseless. Hospitality centers for refugees are open facilities and people are free to come and go, therefore some may not be inside at the moment of the counting each day," the ministry responded in a statement to Greek national news agency AMNA. Endit