The United Nations High Commission for Refugees has issued a call for hotels and ships on Greek islands that can be leased to house vulnerable groups of asylum-seekers who might be affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The move was approved by the Migration and Asylum Ministry, and the project would be funded by the European Union. Migrant camps on the North Aegean islands are overcrowded and authorities fear the spread of COVID-19 in the accommodations there.
Hotels are being sought for asylum applicants and refugees on the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos, Leros, Rhodes, and Crete. Availability must be immediate and the lease will be for three months.
Ships must have the capacity to accommodate 300 passengers and tie up at the docks of Lesvos, Chios, and Samos, or accommodate 100 people and tie at Kos and Leros. They must have cleaning services, supply cabins with electricity and provide meals three times a day.
Leases for ships must go into effect on Monday, April 13 and cover 15 days, with the option of extending it to two months.
(Source: Athens-Macedonian News Agency)
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