The influx of refugees and migrants to the islands in the first half of 2020 was reduced by 51% compared to the first six months of 2019, according to data released by the Migration Ministry on Monday.
The decrease in the second quarter of 2020 (April-June) reached 92% compared to the corresponding period of 2019. Government spokesperson Stelios Petsas also noted in his briefing that flows decreased by 46% across the country.
At the same time, according to the same data, primary decisions on asylum applications increased by 88%. Specifically, in the first half of 2020, 46,554 decisions were issued compared to 24,701 in the corresponding period of 2019.
Greek authorities transferred 150 recognised refugees from Victoria Square yesterday, moving them to reception facilities in Skaramangas and Schisto in western Attica, Greece.
Men, women and children had camped at the square after they were forced out of camps on the islands due to the recent policy of the Migration Ministry to stop providing refugees with recognised status with accommodation and food.
According to police, the operation of transferring the refugees’ from camps was without incidents and police had to persuade them.
