LESBOS – The port of Mytilene has been turned into a makeshift migrant and refugee camp, with new arrivals held in a fenced-off enclosure next to the town’s old swimming pool. A total of 334 migrants and refugees of various nationalities are staying there and spending the night in buses offered by the coast guard. They have all arrived on Lesvos island over the weekend and were not transferred to the Moria Reception and Identification Centre as access was blocked by protesting islanders.

Another 174 people that arrived on Monday and Sunday and remain at their point of arrival in Eftalou or Skala Sykamnias will be joining the 334 already at the port. On Monday, they spent the night in tents set up by the UNHCR on the beach at Skala Sykamias after a temporary accommodation facility was torched on Saturday night.

After being registered, the 508 migrants and refugees will remain at the port of Mytilene until they are transferred to a closed-type accommodation facility on mainland Greece.