139 refugees head to Germany from Greece for resettlement

Greek authorities say 139 vulnerable asylum-seekers who had been living in overcrowded Greek island camps have left for Germany, as part of efforts to ease overcrowding and move refugees to other European countries.

The group that flew out of Greece on Wednesday consisted of children suffering serious health problems and their immediate families, as well as 53 unaccompanied minors, the migration ministry said.

The unaccompanied minors are part of a program for 1,600 children and teens up to 18 who are in Greece without their parents or guardians to be resettled in other European countries.

Alternate Migration Minister Giorgos Koumoutsakos said the flight to Germany was the first resettlement flight after Greece's largest refugee camp, the notoriously overcrowded Moria camp on the island of Lesvos, burned down earlier this month.

Greek authorities...