Plan to transfer thousands of migrants in works

Greek authorities are planning the transfer of thousands of migrants from overcrowded facilities on the Aegean islands to centers on the mainland, sources said on Wednesday as Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras held talks with visiting European Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos about a new burgeoning refugee crisis. 

Facilities on the mainland can currently host 3,000 migrants while emergency plans are under way to accommodate an additional 3,000 people, Kathimerini understands. 

News of the plans emerged on the first day of an informal summit of European Union leaders in Salzburg, Austria, which is to continue on Thursday with talks expected to focus on migration. 

Meanwhile Amnesty International joined the chorus of organizations condemning the living conditions at reception centers on the islands and calling for them to be moved to the mainland.

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