The
United Nation's refugee agency, UNCHR, said Europe is also to blame for
failing to prevent the suffering on the islands of Lesbos, Chios, Kos,
Samos and Leros which "should and could be avoided".
In
a strongly worded report the agency said the amount of migrants who had
arrived in Greece this year by the end of July had increased by a
"staggering" 750 PER CENT compared to the same period in 2014 - and
branded it an "urgent humanitarian emergency".
In July alone 50,000 new migrants had arrived on the islands, 20,000 more than the previous month.
The
UNCHR said the "vast majority" coming to Greece are from Syria,
Afghanistan and Iraq - all countries experiencing conflict or human
rights violations.
Vincent
Cochetel, UNCHR's director of the bureau for Europe, said: "This
humanitarian emergency is happening in Europe, and requires an urgent
Greek and European response.
"Such a level of suffering should and can be avoided.
"The
Greek authorities need to urgently designate a single body to
coordinate response and set up an adequate humanitarian assistance
mechanism.
"Greece and Europe need to lead the
response to this crisis, which can be resolved only through more
solidarity within and outside the EU and increased alternative means to
reach Europe for refugees fleeing from violence."
The
UNCHR, which is providing aid to the islands, added that there has been
a "generous response" from Greek civil society which should be
"recognised and supported".
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