Heraklion: Transfers of migrants and refugees from Crete are being carried out to both closed and open accommodation facilities in mainland Greece, Migration and Asylum Ministry sources clarified on Thursday, following reactions from organizations and local authorities on the Aegean Islands.
According to the same sources, any transfers to facilities on the Aegean islands are made solely because of their very low occupancy rates and are intended only for the necessary identification procedures of newly arrived migrants. These facilities have the required infrastructure and operational readiness to complete the relevant procedures, the sources pointed out.
After the identification process is completed, the new arrivals are then scheduled to be transferred to either open or closed facilities in mainland Greece, the sources added.
At the same time, it was noted that reception facilities on the Aegean islands are currently operating at historically low occupancy rates, as they are being continuously decongested through transfers to the mainland.
Finally, the ministry sources stressed that there is no question of permanent residence of migrants and refugees on the Aegean islands as part of these transfers, emphasizing that under no circumstances will the islands be burdened with permanent accommodation arrangements.