Migrants on the Greek island of Kos

 

 

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says almost 34,500 migrants and refugees arrived in the Dodecanese - the group of islands which includes Kos - between January and July 2015

Thousands of migrants have arrived this year on Kos, an island with a population of just 33,000.

A Greek policeman tries to hold migrants behind a fence as they wait for a registration procedure outside a police station at southeastern island of Kos, Monday, Aug. 10, 2015. 

Greece's coast guard rescued more than 1,400 migrants in nearly 60 search and rescue operations near several Greek islands in the eastern Aegean Sea over the past three days as the pace of new arrivals increase, authorities said Monday

Migrants get out of an inflatable boat as they arrive on the Greek island of Kos after crossing a part of the Aegean Sea between Turkey and Greece on August 13, 2015.

 Greece sent extra riot police to Kos as tensions mounted over a huge influx of migrants. The Greek government said it was 'immediately' dispatching a ship to Kos to double up as an accommodation and processing centre for up to 2,500 people as around 7,000 migrants wait to apply for immigration papers 

Hands raised in the air and fingers arranged in victory signs, the joy and relief of this Syrian man, after making it to the shores on the Greek island of Kos on a small rubber dinghy, are clear to see.

The picture emerged as the greek government, so overwhelmed by the influx of migrants - more than 130,000 have reached Greece so far this year - sent a ferry to serve as a temporary processing centre

Greek ship at Kos to house refugees

A passenger ship has docked at the Greek island of Kos to be used as a registration centre and accommodation for migrants and refugees.

The vessel could provide temporary shelter for up to 2,500 people.
Greek authorities hope it will help them cope with the influx of migrants - many of them Syrian refugees - who have arrived on the island.