ATHENS — Greece is grappling with a dramatic surge in Mediterranean migrant arrivals, with more than 7,000 people intercepted near Crete over the past 10 days, most of them traveling from Libya, as reported by Arab News. The crisis has overwhelmed local facilities and prompted the government to suspend asylum processing for sea arrivals from North Africa.
Early Thursday, more than 500 migrants—mostly young men—were brought to Lavrio, south of Athens, after Greek authorities intercepted their fishing trawler south of Crete. They had been temporarily held aboard a bulk carrier before being transferred to the mainland. Separately, over 200 others arrived at the port of Piraeus, highlighting the scale and urgency of the situation.
Makeshift reception centers on Crete have reached capacity, officials say, with around 500 new arrivals daily since the weekend. Many of the migrants are from Somalia, Sudan, Egypt, and Morocco, and Crete’s local authorities are struggling to provide even the most basic services.
The Greek government responded by fast-tracking emergency legislation to suspend asylum procedures for three months for sea arrivals from North Africa. “This is an extreme and urgent situation,” said Manos Logothetis, migration ministry secretary-general. “These steps are strict, but necessary. They send a clear message.”
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has also signaled support for broader EU efforts to tie financial aid to African countries’ willingness to accept deportations or voluntary repatriation.
Meanwhile, tensions between the EU and Libya are rising, as a recent diplomatic effort to coordinate migration controls was abruptly cut short when EU officials were turned away from eastern Libya.
Human rights groups have condemned Greece’s move. “Seeking refuge is a human right,” said Martha Roussou of the International Rescue Committee. “Preventing people from doing so is illegal and inhumane.”
Despite a 20% overall decline in irregular EU border crossings this year, southern Mediterranean routes remain a volatile pressure point.
