Athens, Greece: Greece aims to deal swiftly with the migrant overflow at the Idomeni refugee camp on the Greek-Macedonian border where some 12,000 people are camping in miserable conditions waiting to cross.
"I hope the situation at Idomeni is resolved within a week without recourse to force," Mega television Saturday quoted Dimitris Vitsas, the minister charged with coordinating the refugee flow, as saying.
Conditions in the camp have worsened since four Balkan countries shut their borders on Tuesday and Wednesday, closing off the main route to wealthy northern Europe trodden by hundreds of thousands of migrants in the last two years.
Vitsas said Athens would try "to convince" refugees to accept a transfer to other reception centres across the country.
Figures released by Greek authorities Saturday estimated some 12,000 people remained at Idomeni but thousands more are camped out in fields nearby waiting in vain for the reopening of a border closed last week.
According to Vitsas, "50,000 spots" will be available in reception centres across Greece "by the end of next week, some 10,000 more than currently.
Last monday, EU and Turkish leaders agreed to a tentative proposal including the return of migrants landing in Greece and a "one-for-one" swap of Syrian refugees.
The controversial plan is due to be finalised at a EU summit on March 17.
"I hope the situation at Idomeni is resolved within a week without recourse to force," Mega television Saturday quoted Dimitris Vitsas, the minister charged with coordinating the refugee flow, as saying.
Conditions in the camp have worsened since four Balkan countries shut their borders on Tuesday and Wednesday, closing off the main route to wealthy northern Europe trodden by hundreds of thousands of migrants in the last two years.
Vitsas said Athens would try "to convince" refugees to accept a transfer to other reception centres across the country.
Advertisement
Figures released by Greek authorities Saturday estimated some 12,000 people remained at Idomeni but thousands more are camped out in fields nearby waiting in vain for the reopening of a border closed last week.
Advertisement
According to Vitsas, "50,000 spots" will be available in reception centres across Greece "by the end of next week, some 10,000 more than currently.
Advertisement
Last monday, EU and Turkish leaders agreed to a tentative proposal including the return of migrants landing in Greece and a "one-for-one" swap of Syrian refugees.
Advertisement
The controversial plan is due to be finalised at a EU summit on March 17.
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Greek Conservatives Oust PM Alexis Tsipras In Election Landslide Greek PM Alexis Tsipras Says Will Call Snap Elections After June 2 Unable To Escape, Families Die In Embrace As Greece Wildfire Kills 60 Karnataka's 100% Quota Bill For Kannadigas In Private Firms For These Posts 13 Indians Among 16 Crew Members Missing After Oil Tanker Capsizes Off Oman Is Earth Orbiting Sun Or A Point In Space? Read This Fascinating Analysis 4 Top Leaders Quit Ajit Pawar's Party In Major Setback After Poll Drubbing Trump Shooting Conspiracy Theories Viewed 215 Million Times On X: Report Days After Rally Scare, Man With AK-47 Arrested Near Trump's Party Event Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.