The U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR) said Wednesday that refugee and migrant arrivals to Europe across the Mediterranean so far this year have surpassed 100,000. According to UNHCR figures, a total of 103,000 refugees and migrants had arrived in Europe as of June 8, with 54,000 in Italy; 48,000 in Greece; 91 on Mala; and 920 in Spain. On the Greek island of Lesvos, record numbers are arriving in flimsy dinghies and boats, putting an enormous strain on its services and resources. Arrivals there have grown from 737 in January to 5,000 in April and over 7,200 in May. Hundreds of refugees leave the island for the Greek mainland every day after being identified, screened, and registered. At present, however, there are roughly 2,200 to 2,500 waiting there for registration by the authorities. "This is more than twice its official capacity of 410 people," UNHCR spokesperson Adrian Edwards told reporters in Geneva. "In addition, an education park in Kara Tepe is being used as temporary accommodation for around 1000 refugees."
