(MENAFN- QNA)
Geneva, June 17 – Refugees arriving in Greece's North Aegean and Dodecanese islands face worsening reception conditions, despite considerable efforts by local authorities and civil society and the number of arrivals is expected to increase still further.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, every day hundreds of people arrive in flimsy inflatable dinghies and wooden boats, but with summer weather conditions making the sea crossing from Turkey less hazardous the number of new arrivals is expected to climb still higher, putting the stretched island communities under even greater strain.
UNHCR said police, coast guard and both regional and municipal local authorities have allocated additional personnel and resources, but that the response fell short of needs.
"UNHCR is particularly concerned that refugees with specific needs, such as unaccompanied children, the elderly, pregnant women, people with disabilities and victims of torture, may not be receiving appropriate care," UNHCR spokesperson William Spindler told a press briefing in Geneva.
He added that private citizens, local volunteers and NGOs had all distributed food, water, shoes and clothes to the refugees, but this was insufficient to meet needs.
"UNHCR is ready to continue working with the Greek authorities and civil society in order to address some of these challenges, but greater support from EU member states and institutions is urgently needed to avoid a humanitarian crisis," Spindler added.
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