Greece sees sharp drop in migrant arrivals while reception facilities remain inadequate

In the first half of 2026 Crete and the nearby island of Gavdos recorded 8,552 migrant arrivals, accounting for roughly 70% of all entries to Greece. The arrivals were largely from Bangladesh (41.3%), Sudan (36.9%) and Egypt (12.3%), including 780 children. Local authorities and NGOs report a lack of organized reception centres, with newcomers placed in temporary sites such as old ports, former police buildings and makeshift shelters that lack basic hygiene and safety standards. Reports describe instances of physical abuse, including signs of beatings, among the newly arrived.

Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis highlighted a dramatic decline in illegal migrant numbers on Lesbos, falling from about 19,000 in 2015 to just 277 today. He noted that total arrivals to Greece dropped from roughly 890,000 in 2015 to 48,000 in 2025, and asylum applications fell from 140,000 to 28,000, shortening processing times to one‑two months. Despite the reduction, the criticism over insufficient reception infrastructure persists.