In early September 2015, an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 refugees, roughly 70% of them are Syrians, waited to complete their registration with the authorities in Mytilini, capital city of the Greek island of Lesbos. For most, the living conditions are miserable: sleeping on the ground, no access to toilets and extreme temperatures.
The Greek authorities have been overwhelmed by the number of refugees and due to this, the registration process has slowed down enormously. It takes 7 to 10 days for refugees to get their document ready that allow them to buy a ferry ticket and be transferred to the mainland. From there, the majority will continue north, to the Macedonian border. Afterwards, they will continue their journey towards western Europe.