Transfer of refugees from Greek islands to mainland must be expedited: UNHCR

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) urged authorities on Friday to accelerate the relocation of asylum-seekers from the Aegean islands of Samos, Chios and Lesvos to the Greek mainland in light of the poor conditions on many of the islands' reception centers.

"Even with recent efforts to improve matters, conditions at many sites on the islands remain very poor," the UN agency said in a statement.

"The need for better protection will become all the more acute this weekend when temperatures on the islands are expected to drop. We are worried," it added.

According to figures, some 700 individuals including young children are currently living in unheated tents in Samos' Reception and Information Centre.

UNHCR said that together with partners it has been providing much needed relief on the islands of Chios and Lesvos where similar conditions prevail.

According to the agency, asylum-seekers are only allowed to move on to the Greek mainland once they have completed the registration process or in cases of particular vulnerability.

"Slowness in registration or identifying vulnerable individuals and, previously, a shortage of suitable spaces on the mainland have been factors delaying moves," it explained.

"Among other things this has contributed to serious overcrowding of facilities built for far fewer people, and increased protection risks," it added.

Latest International Organization for Migration (IOM) figures revealed that over 173,500 refugees and migrants reached Greek shores last year, down from over 853,000 in 2015.

UNHCR reminded that only 12 percent of the 66,400 migrants to be moved from Greece through the EU relocation mechanism agreed upon in 2016 have left Greek soil or are scheduled to do so.

"UNHCR appeals to EU member states to respect their previous commitments and offer additional spaces without further delay," it concluded. Endit