Dozens of migrants, refugees being transferred from Symi island

Around 300 migrants and refugees who arrived from Turkey over the past few days are to be transferred off the southeastern Aegean island of Symi by the end of the week.

The decision comes in response to a number of complaints made by Symi Mayor Eleftherios Papakalodoukas, who has stressed that his island is completely unequipped to host, feed and care for asylum-seekers.

The official estimates that Symi has received around 1,500 migrants since the start of June, most of whom have been transferred to camps on the islands of Lesvos, Samos, Chios, Kos and Leros. However, around 300 remain on the island.

"Right now there are between 50 and 70 people staying in the police station's forecourt, but the rest are out in the streets, sleeping rough,"  Papakalodoukas told Kathimerini on Monday.

Those who are not staying at the police station, he added, are having...