People smugglers back in business as Greek islands struggle with numbers

Authorities have noticed a spike in illegal migration across the Aegean, after hundreds of asylum seekers attempt to cross over from Turkey on a daily basis.

According to official sources the increase in Greece’s north-eastern Aegean island saw 1,607 migrants and asylum seekers land on the islands in the week between August 5 and 11, bringing the total migrant population in hosting camps to 21,550.

All migrant hosting camps are struggling to cope with the numbers as they are stretched to capacity such as the Moria camp on the island of Lesvos currently holding more than 9,000 people, nearly three times its capacity.

The camp on Chios Island was designed to cater to approximately 1,000 people, but it too is now struggling after being forced to host 2,440.

On the island of Samos, the migrant camp there now host close to 4,000 people, a far cry from the 600 is was supposed to host.

Turkish authorities maintain they are actively trying to stem the flow of illegal migration to Greece and refer to their official data that suggests that for the period August 5-11, their coast guard said they stopped stop 86 vessels out of a total 132 boats carrying an estimated 4,098 people trying to make the Aegean crossing to Greece.