Greece treats migrant flows as national security issue as hundreds reach its islands

At least 13,000 people have gathered at Evros land border, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Greece has prevented 24,203 illegal crossings and a total of 183 persons who crossed the border were arrested from the early hours of last Saturday until Monday afternoon, according to government sources.

The numbers included 4,354 persons who were kept off on Monday and 42 detained, mainly originating from Morocco, Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to the same sources.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will visit Evros on Tuesday with European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Parliament President David Sassoli, the prime minister's office announced on Monday in an e-mailed press release.

Mitsotakis has had a round of telephone calls with many European leaders since Friday to discuss the situation and on Monday he also had a telephone conversation with US President Donald Trump, his office announced.

Also on Monday, Greek Coast Guard officers retrieved the dead body of a child off the island when one of the boats carrying refugees and migrants from Turkish shores capsized.