Moria

Tensions are rising at migrant reception facilities on islands in the eastern Aegean, and erupted into a riot at the Moria facility on Lesvos late on Wednesday night, amid continued delays in the processing of asylum applications and the slow-moving transfer of migrants to the mainland. 

A livestock farmer on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos was released on Thursday pending trial on charges of illegal arms possession after opening fire on a group of migrants he claims were trying to steal his sheep on Wednesday.

A total of 12,726 migrants and refugees, hailing form 64 countries in the Middle East, Asia, Africa, South America and even the Caribbean, were registered at the official processing center on Lesvos last year.

Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas said Monday authorities were making huge efforts to improve conditions at the Moria camp on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos, while accusing European officials of "hypocrisy" for failing to shoulder their share of the burden.

Plans to expand a refugee screening center, or hot spot, on the eastern Aegean island of Chios inched forward Thursday, as police on Lesvos said they had arrested six people in the wake of riots at the island's infamous Moria facility.

Fifteen people were injured in clashes between groups of migrants at the Moria camp on Lesvos, seen in this recent photo, on Tuesday night. Despite the transfer of hundreds of migrants to the mainland in recent weeks, the overcrowded hot spot still houses some 5,400 people.

Opposition New Democracy on Wednesday challenged Migration Minister Yiannis Mouzalas over a violent brawl on Tuesday night at the migrant processing center of Moria, on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos.

Around 10 people were rushed to hospital on Lesvos on Tuesday night following violent clashes between rival groups in the Moria refugee and migrant camp, Ekathimerini reported.

Riot police were called in to quell the unrest, which reportedly broke out between rival groups of Iraqi and Afghan nationals and resulted in several small fires being set.

The population of the overcrowded Moria migrant processing center on the eastern Aegean island of Lesvos has fallen below 6,000 for the first time in months following the transfer of 1,650 residents to the Greek mainland, but still remains well above capacity.

In January, three people died in their sleep at Moria refugee camp. Ten months later, their families are still looking for answers.