Greece must take "urgent" steps to improve "miserable" conditions in its overcrowded island migrant camps, the U.N. refugee chief said Wednesday.

"These living conditions need urgent improvement," <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrant-death-toll-in-mediterranean-tops-1000-for-6th-year-unhcr-253075">United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees</a> Filippo Grandi said after visiting camps on &nbsp;Lesbos.

"Whatever the situation of these people, we cannot accept that they live in such miserable conditions, exposed also to violence and exploitation," Grandi said.

According to government figures, there are over <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/struggling-with-influx-greece-to-shut-down-three-refugee-camps-263414">39,000 asylum-seekers</a> on the islands, with hundreds more arriving daily, capitalising on mild weather.

The International Organisation for Migration says there are an additional 22,000 people in camps on the mainland, which are nearly full or already past capacity.

Greece's conservative government last week announced a plan to expand and fortify migrant camps on Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Kos and Leros.

They also said they would work to make the borders 'air-tight' against a feared new surge of asylum-seekers.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has also pledged to quickly resettle over 4,000 unaccompanied children after failing to persuade EU states to accept around 3,000 of them.

Grandi, who will see Mitsotakis later on Wednesday and hold a press conference on Thursday, said he "fully" supports plans to bring more children to the mainland.

"I am very worried and I know the PM is very worried about children...we need to do our maximum, all of us collectively, to help the children," he said.

"Europe has to do more for Greece, this is part of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/eu-countries-back-tough-line-on-5g-suppliers-in-potential-blow-to-huawei-264045">European Union</a>," he added.

There is already opposition from authorities on Lesbos and Samos to the planned new camps that are to hold over 5,000 asylum-seekers each.

Protests have taken place in several towns in northern Greece in recent weeks to block attempted relocations of asylum-seekers.

Greece must take "urgent" steps to improve "miserable" conditions in its overcrowded island migrant camps, the U.N. refugee chief said Wednesday. "These living conditions need urgent improvement," United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said after visiting camps on Lesbos.

Greece must take "urgent" steps to improve "miserable" conditions in its overcrowded island migrant camps, the U.N. refugee chief said Wednesday. "These living conditions need urgent improvement," United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said after visiting camps on Lesbos. "Whatever the situation of these people, we cannot accept that they live in such miserable conditions, exposed also to violence and exploitation," Grandi said. According to government figures, there are over 39,000 asylum-seekers on the islands, with hundreds more arriving daily, capitalising on mild weather. The International Organisation for Migration says there are an additional 22,000 people in camps on the mainland, which are nearly full or already past capacity. Greece's conservative government last week announced a plan to expand and fortify migrant camps on Lesbos, Samos, Chios, Kos and Leros. They also said they would work to make the borders 'air-tight' against a feared new surge of asylum-seekers. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has also pledged to quickly resettle over 4,000 unaccompanied children after failing to persuade EU states to accept around 3,000 of them. Grandi, who will see Mitsotakis later on Wednesday and hold a press conference on Thursday, said he "fully" supports plans to bring more children to the mainland. "I am very worried and I know the PM is very worried about children...we need to do our maximum, all of us collectively, to help the children," he said. "Europe has to do more for Greece, this is part of the European Union," he added. There is already opposition from authorities on Lesbos and Samos to the planned new camps that are to hold over 5,000 asylum-seekers each. Protests have taken place in several towns in northern Greece in recent weeks to block attempted relocations of asylum-seekers.

U.N. urges Greece to fix 'miserable' migrant camps

Greece will shut down <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/greek-camps-near-capacity-as-refugees-face-long-wait-for-asylum-259734">overcrowded refugee camps</a> on its outlying islands and replace them with more restrictive holding centres, authorities said on Wednesday.

Living conditions for thousands of people in camps on five Aegean islands have been decried by aid groups as appalling. The country is currently struggling with a resurgence in migrant and refugee arrivals.

Greece's newly-elected conservative government has vowed to tighten its borders and clear away bottlenecks in asylum vetting procedures. Parliament approved tougher asylum guidelines this month.

Government spokesman Stelios Petsas said authorities would create "closed pre-departure centres", which would make it easier to control the movements of asylum seekers and prevent them from slipping across to the mainland undetected.

"They cannot circulate in the country without restrictions, and because a clear message should be sent to those planning, or thinking of coming to the country illegally when they aren't entitled to asylum," he said.

"They should realise ... if they give money to a trafficker to bring them to Greece they will lose it."

The numbers of refugees and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migrants-on-greek-islands-on-edge-of-catastrophe-council-of-europe-259062">migrants arriving in Greece</a> this year has been the highest since 2015-2016, when more than a million people fleeing conflict arrived in Europe, mainly using the sea route between Turkey and Greece.

The centres that will close include the notorious Moria camp on the island of Lesbos. Created to accommodate 3,000 people, more than 15,000 people are crammed into the facility. It will be replaced with a closed facility that will process new arrivals and people whose asylum applications were rejected.

Greek Deputy Defence Minister 0 said authorities would also create a single agency tasked with border protection.

About 36,400 asylum seekers and refugees were being held in overcrowded camps on the Aegean islands close to Turkey as of November&nbsp;17, according to data from the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR.

Greek authorities say they hope to move up to 20,000 people to the mainland by the end of the year.

Greece will shut down overcrowded refugee camps on its outlying islands and replace them with more restrictive holding centres, authorities said on Wednesday. Living conditions for thousands of people in camps on five Aegean islands have been decried by aid groups as appalling.

Greece will shut down overcrowded refugee camps on its outlying islands and replace them with more restrictive holding centres, authorities said on Wednesday. Living conditions for thousands of people in camps on five Aegean islands have been decried by aid groups as appalling. The country is currently struggling with a resurgence in migrant and refugee arrivals. Greece's newly-elected conservative government has vowed to tighten its borders and clear away bottlenecks in asylum vetting procedures. Parliament approved tougher asylum guidelines this month. Government spokesman Stelios Petsas said authorities would create "closed pre-departure centres", which would make it easier to control the movements of asylum seekers and prevent them from slipping across to the mainland undetected. "They cannot circulate in the country without restrictions, and because a clear message should be sent to those planning, or thinking of coming to the country illegally when they aren't entitled to asylum," he said. "They should realise ... if they give money to a trafficker to bring them to Greece they will lose it." The numbers of refugees and migrants arriving in Greece this year has been the highest since 2015-2016, when more than a million people fleeing conflict arrived in Europe, mainly using the sea route between Turkey and Greece. The centres that will close include the notorious Moria camp on the island of Lesbos. Created to accommodate 3,000 people, more than 15,000 people are crammed into the facility. It will be replaced with a closed facility that will process new arrivals and people whose asylum applications were rejected. Greek Deputy Defence Minister 0 said authorities would also create a single agency tasked with border protection. About 36,400 asylum seekers and refugees were being held in overcrowded camps on the Aegean islands close to Turkey as of November 17, according to data from the United Nations refugee agency UNHCR. Greek authorities say they hope to move up to 20,000 people to the mainland by the end of the year.

Struggling with influx, Greece to shut down three refugee camps

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U.N. urges Greece to fix 'miserable' migrant camps

Struggling with influx, Greece to shut down three refugee camps