MORE than 1,300 migrants a day risked their lives crossing the sea to reach Greek islands on average last week. "For the last eight months, Ankara has been threatening to open the 'migration doors,'" said Greek Deputy Migration Minister George Koumoutsakos. Greece was on a state of alert Sunday as it faced an influx of thousands of migrants seeking to cross the border from Turkey, with locals fearing a new immigration crisis. The migrant crisis in Kos, Lésvos and other popular Greek islands has left many holidaymakers reticent about visiting. After 75,000 migrant arrivals on the Greek shores in 2019, the country's and international authorities predict that the refugee crisis in Greece will continue in 2020. Latest travel advice for Greece, including how to stay safe during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and information on returning to the UK. The UNHCR says Spain has taken in 56,200 irregular migrants arriving by sea so far this year, Greece 28,700 and Italy 22,500. But symbolic gestures alone won't placate Greece, which warns that the EU is no more prepared for a surge in asylum seeker arrivals now than it was in 2015. This is especially the case in Greece and Italy where the vast majority of refugees and migrants first arrive in the EU.

Greece wants to install a floating barrier to stop refugees and migrants from reaching its shores, government officials have said. The country must now — amid economic turmoil — grapple with issues related to its highly porous borders, mounting asylum applications, and inadequate immigrant-detention system.

In an interview with DIM TV in Turkey, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu referred to the migrant issue and argued that after the end of the pandemic, there will be another wave of illegal immigration to Greece. Greece: Illegal Immigration in the Midst of Crisis Once known for large-scale emigration, Greece has become the main point of entry for unauthorized migrants heading toward Europe. Overland arrivals in Greece have climbed sharply to 14,000, a … On Saturday, Greek police fired tear gas at crowds at the border crossing at Kastanies, who responded by throwing stones and shouting "open the gates", according to the AFP news agency. “Greece received yesterday an organized, massive, illegal attempt of its borders violation, it withstood protecting our borders and the ones of Europe,” government spokesman Stelios Petsas said on Saturday following an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister on the new migration crisis.

Is Corfu affected?

Ankara is again openly threatening to try and attempt to asymmetrically invade Greece with illegal immigrants, almost two months after their initial failure.

It was at the height of the crisis in 2016, when thousands of migrants and asylum seekers were arriving in Greece fleeing war and deprivation and seeking security in Europe. Which Greek islands are hit by the migrant crisis? Save Greece has found itself cast as the gateway to a humanitarian disaster Credit: ... Greek island migration arrivals.

The islands - some just … Which Greek islands are affected by the refugee crisis?

The Greek islands were the European Union’s busiest entry point for illegal migration last year, according to European border agency Frontex. It's a case of new year, same challenge for Greece and the country's authorities as they continue to wrestle with the ongoing migrant crisis. Greece has passed a controversial asylum law aimed at curbing the rising number of migrants arriving on its shores, despite mounting criticism it will curtail fundamental human rights.