Second Lesvos port will soon relieve pressure from migrants/refugees at Mytilene

"In all likelihood, within the next few days, a second port will operate so that the refugees don't all disembark at Mytilene but also go somewhere else. To Sigri," he said. He noted that the disused port in Sigri will be reopened and prepared so that ships can once again dock there and take on refugees.

The caretaker minister said that ships, staff and equipment have been sent to assist the task of identifying and registering the arriving migrants, speeding up the procedure so that they were able to leave the island more quickly, and also creating some basic reception facilities to house those awaiting processing.

Mouzalas reported that, according to official figures, there were now between 15,000 and 17,000 migrants and refugees in the island's main port in Mytilene.

"We want to create a steady base where whatever is added we are in a position to calmly move it off the island - so that the islanders are not disturbed and certain that such a situation will not arise again. We hope that in the next five days, both residents and refugees will see clear signs that things are improving," he said.

The government's actions were currently focused on Mytilene, he added, because the situation there was just shy of being out of control.

The minister also reported that reception facilities had been set up on the island of Leros, noting that the problem was beginning to be dealt with so that, whatever government is elected, "it will have a calm base in order to decide what to do."