Greece to create new ‘closed detention centres’ for migrants

Greece announced plans to create detention centers for migrants on five islands to try and speed up deportations back to Turkey, officials said Monday.

The government will proceed with the purchase of land on the islands of Lesvos, Chios, and Samos, to press ahead with plans to create holding facilities to eventually replace existing camps that are severely overcrowded, government spokesman Stelios Petsas said.

"These closed facilities will be governed by strict rules and (limitations) for movement for the occupants," Petsas said. "Occupants will receive exit cards for controlled leave, while the structures will remain closed at night time."

He said fast-track legislative procedures will be employed to build the sites — with the government issuing an emergency decree to be ratified by parliament at a later date.

No more details of the planned facilities were announced.

Greece already operates three closed facilities in the north of the country with a combined capacity of 880 places and is planning to expand a network of migrant camps throughout the mainland with the capacity of the facilities designed not to exceed 1% of the population of each administrative region.

*Source: Reuters