Greece is considering opening a migrant detention facility on the island of Rhodes to manage an increase in arrivals from neighboring Turkey, Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos announced Tuesday.
Rhodes, along with nearby Symi, has seen a surge in migrant arrivals in recent months. Local media have shown images of migrants camping out in Rhodes town center, which has led to criticism from residents.
Currently, Rhodes lacks a migrant facility, prompting the government to consider a temporary detention center. “This is our intention, and we will address this issue in the coming weeks,” Panagiotopoulos told public broadcaster ERT, noting that discussions with the local community are essential.
According to the UNHCR, more than 48,000 migrants arrived in Greece between January and October, with over 5,500 landing on Rhodes. Panagiotopoulos said many migrants could potentially be relocated to mainland reception centers as island camps reach capacity.
Greece has long been a primary entry point to Europe for migrants, mainly from the Middle East and Asia, with more than a million arriving between 2015 and 2016. The number of arrivals dropped for a time but has surged again, straining island facilities and local communities.