EU to Reveal Emergency Humanitarian Aid Plan to Greece Amid Migrant Crisis

The European Commission on Wednesday is expected to reveal a multi-million humanitarian aid plan aimed at helping Greece struggling with a major refugee influx, media reported, citing EU officials.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Under the plan, the European Union could be disbursing money to Greece the same way it does to help foreign crises, the BBC reported. According to the broadcaster, it will be the first time the EU aid agencies will work directly with the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations inside the bloc, instead of deploying funds to an individual member state.

According to the UN data, about 24,000 migrants are in need of housing in Greece and over 8,000 are stuck on the border with Macedonia, as Macedonia closed its border for migrants from Afghanistan over a week ago.

According to the BBC, in 2016 the European Union plans to allocate 300 million euros ($325 million) to help any member state handle the refugee influx. However, Greek media have reported that the aid plan will have a budget of over 500 million euros.

Greece is used as a gateway by hundreds of thousands of refugees and migrants seeking to enter Europe. After coming ashore on Greek islands, many of them head north in search of passageways to more affluent Germany and Sweden. Earlier this year, Athens asked the European Commission for 500 million euros to aid the asylum seekers.