Greek islands set to take 20,000 Syrian refugees

Plans are underway to provide shelter on two Greek islands for 20,000 Syrian refugees, Greece's public order ministry said on Thursday, while other officials said EU-level talks on the issue are ongoing.
The Conservative-led government of Antonis Samaras, "foresees, if necessary, providing hospitality to 20,000 refugees from Syria who will be accommodated in special facilities on the island of Crete and Rhodes," the ministry said in a written answer to a request by AFP.
The move would fulfill Athens' human rights obligations under the United Nations charter, it added.
The operation is code-named 'Ioni' after the first ancient Greek colony established in Syria, the ministry said.
No further information was given on whether the refugees will be lodged in hotels or other purpose-built facilities.
The Greek foreign ministry later noted that the issue was still under EU discussion and that Athens was currently focused on "supporting" countries adjacent to Syria in handling the refugee influx.
More than 32,000 people are believed to have died in Syria since the start of the uprising in March 2011 against President Bashar al-Assad.
Assad's regime has insisted the insurgents must stop the violence first as it turned down a call for restraint issued by the UN secretary general.
Thousands of refugees from Syria are currently in Turkey and Jordan.
Athens has traditionally maintained close relations with the Arab world and recently helped treat more than 2,000 wounded from the uprising in Libya.
Authorities are now worried that the conflict in Syria will increase migration and refugee pressure on Greek borders.