Greek lawmakers prepared to vote on legislation on Thursday that would temporarily halt the processing of asylum applications of people coming from North Africa, a move rights groups have called illegal.

In an urgent response to a surge in Greece's migrant flows, particularly from Libya to Crete, Mitsotakis announced stringent new measures.

The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) on Thursday raised alarm over Greece’s decision to suspend the submission of asylum applications from people arriving by sea from North Africa, warning it risks breaching international law and undermining the country’s longstanding commitment to protecting those fleeing conflict and persecution.