Summary Lesbos is one of several Greek islands overwhelmed in recent weeks by am t0he influx of migrants
ATHENS (AFP) - Greece s coastguard on Monday said it had recovered the bodies of two migrants who drowned when their boat sank near the island of Lesbos, and was seeking five more who were missing.
Another eight people on the same boat were rescued, the coastguard said, without giving details on the nationality of the victims.
Lesbos is one of several Greek islands overwhelmed in recent weeks by am t0he influx of migrants and refugees, mainly from war-torn Syria.
Some 160,000 migrants and refugees have landed on Greek shores since January, with the authorities criticised by the UN and humanitarian groups for poor preparation that has left thousands of them sleeping on the street.
Amnesty International on Monday said refugees faced "dreadful" conditions on the island caused by severe shortages in facilities and staff.
"Overloaded, under-resourced authorities are failing to cope with the dramatic increase in the number of people arriving on the island and must rely on local volunteers, NGO activists, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and tourists to step into the massive breach," the agency said in a report.
Over 33,000 refugees and migrants have landed on the island since August 1, police told the agency, and over 93,000 during the year.
At the Moria detention centre, Amnesty said it had found "overflown toilets, lack of sheets and blankets, filthy and old mattresses and broken beds."
Police told Amnesty they lack the funds to improve conditions.
Another camp for Syrians at Kara Tepe, meant for 500 people, currently houses 1,500 people.
Syrian refugees receive priority in securing passage off the islands, but other nationalities such as Afghans and Pakistanis are stranded for weeks waiting to be registered.
Clashes between migrants have repeatedly broken out on Lesbos with migrants desperate to leave the island and continue their journey to northern Europe.
