More than 300 migrants have arrived on Greek islands in the past three days, most near the Turkish coast, according to data released by the coast guard.
The Coast Guard said yesterday that authorities had found 107 people on the islands of Samos, Mykonos and Rho the day before.
On Wednesday, another 109 migrants arrived on the islands of Lesbos, Rhodes, Samos and Santorini, and on Tuesday another 118 arrived on the islands of Rho, Rhodes and Lesbos.
Most of the migrants were picked up by Coast Guard patrol boats near shore, from dinghies or other vessels provided by people smugglers. All were taken to reception centers for migrants.
For decades, Greece has been one of the favorite points of entry into the European Union for people fleeing conflict or poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia and hoping for a better life in Europe.
According to United Nations data, more than 14.000 people arrived in Greece this year, both by land and by sea, which is roughly a tenth of the total number of successful crossings across the Mediterranean Sea. Of the migrants who managed to cross the Mediterranean, the majority reached Italy, about 104.000 of them. 2022 migrants arrived in Greece in 19.000.
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