Greek authorities have reported a sharp rise in the number of migrants arriving by boat from North Africa, sparking concern over a potential new smuggling route in the central Mediterranean. According to state broadcaster ERTNews, 53 boats carrying migrants have reached the island of Crete from Libya so far this year -- nearly equaling the 63 boat arrivals recorded in all of 2024.

Many of the new arrivals are children, and the trend shows no signs of slowing. In just the past 24 hours, the Greek coastguard rescued 325 migrants south of Crete, with officials confirming that more vessels are currently en route. The migrants reported that they had departed from the Libyan port of Tobruk. Authorities arrested six suspected smugglers who were allegedly operating the boats.

The U.N. Refugee Agency (UNHCR) estimates that by early May, 2,881 people who set off from North Africa had reached Crete. The majority hail from Egypt, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, according to preliminary reports. In addition to Crete, the nearby island of Kasos saw the arrival of approximately 40 migrants. Most of the migrants reportedly intend to continue their journey onward to Germany.

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A shift in smuggling route?

The Greek islands of Crete and its remote neighbor Gavdos -- previously less frequented by migrant routes -- are now facing mounting pressure due to the numbers of arrivals compared to the relatively sparse population numbers and limited accommodation facilities for migrants, particularly on Gavdos. Last year an overall total of 860 migrants landed on the two islands.

"This is an unprecedented situation," Migration Minister Dimitri Kairidis told a local TV station in March 2025. "The numbers are small...but the trend is showing a momentum which is troubling us."

The island of Gavdos, home to only about 60 permanent residents and just one police officer, has been particularly hard-hit. Mayor Lilian Stefanaki said that boats have been arriving almost daily since the weekend, with 63 migrants currently waiting to be transferred to Crete. Without proper facilities, new arrivals in Gavdos are finding shelter in abandoned buildings, while in Crete some are reportedly being housed in disused children’s camps.

"This is a big burden for us. We're a small island, we haven't got supplies or shops. Food is a big problem. Our finances are limited," Stefanaki said.

Neither Crete nor Gavdos has official infrastructure to accommodate migrants, and the UNHCR, which does not maintain a presence on Crete, has rushed to send supplies such as sleeping bags and hygiene kits.

Traditionally, boats departing from Libya have headed toward Italy, making the recent pattern of direct arrivals to Greece particularly noteworthy. "It appears that most of the boats traveling from Libya to Crete and Gavdos are heading directly to Greece, rather than being accidental detours," said Stella Nanou, spokesperson for UNHCR Greece. However, she added, it is too early to confirm whether this indicates a permanent shift in smuggling routes.

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With Reuters and dpa