Forced migration

Greek police arrested seven people and were searching for another two on suspicion of planning or carrying out attacks on migrants on the island of Lesvos, authorities said Friday.

Police said five Greeks and two foreigners between the ages of 17 and 24 were arrested on Thursday night outside the Moria migrant camp, the largest camp for asylum-seekers in the Greek islands.

Without the assistance of organized and trained volunteers, the management of the refugee crisis would have been far more burdensome for the state.

Greece's Migration and Asylum Ministry has submitted an amendment to Parliament requiring all non-governmental organizations that are involved in the field of migration to submit a record of all their members and employees in a bid by the government to have a clearer picture of their activities.

Clashes broke out on Monday during a rally by migrants on the island of Lesvos protesting conditions at the Moria reception center and the slow processing of asylum requests. Greek police fired tear gas to disperse crowds of angry migrants after hundreds marched to the main port of Mytilene.

Five key ministries on Monday signed a joint decision to grant a provisional social security number to all migrants who have applied for asylum in Greece, providing medical coverage and a right to work while they wait for a decision.

Syrian asylum seekers and refugees in Turkey have a monthly expenditure of 2,061 Turkish liras (roughly $344), according to a recent study by the confederation of Turkish Trade Unions (Türk-İş).

Türk-İş's research on the Syrian asylum seekers and irregular migrants currently residing in Turkey have revealed their economic situation and living expenses in the country.

The Greek government plans to build 20 new refugee and migrant centers with a capacity of between 500 and 2000 people each, Real news reports.

These centers are intended to function in a different way than previously known. They will house asylum seekers and fall under the so-called "controlled" sites.

Amnesty International on Thursday criticized Greece's plans to deploy a floating barrier as a way to prevent migrants from reaching the Greek islands from nearby Turkey.

Alternate Minister for Migration Policy Giorgos Koumoutsakos and the executive director of the European Asylum Support Office (EASO), Nina Gregori, on Tuesday signed an agreement paving the way for the agency to acquire a branch in Greece as part of its efforts to bolster support for the country as it struggles to manage rising numbers of refugees and migrants.

The tension surrounding the migrant/refugee crisis is such that any sense of moderation appears almost suspect and spurious. The reason is that everyone involved (local communities, organizations, politicians etc) is either afraid or worried - and very much so.