Greek lawmakers to vote on North Africa asylum ban as activist groups push back

Sea rescues

Dozens, including children, sat on mattresses in a temporary reception centre in Agyia, near the city of Chania, on Thursday. There were among hundreds rescued by the Greek Coast Guard in the Libyan Sea off Crete in recent days.

"We are experiencing what I would call the worst crisis of the past two years," said Vasilis Katsikandarakis, head of the coast guard staff in western Crete. "All the burden has fallen onto the coast guard, who don't have the necessary equipment and personnel to deal with such flows."

Open borders activist groups said the proposed three-month asylum ban would violate international and European law, and called on the Greek government to recall it.