The Syrian Observatory For Human Rights

And still they come: Syrian refugees take to dinghies to make the dangerous journey from Turkey to holiday isle of Kos

More desperate migrants fleeing war-torn countries have landed in the Greek holiday island of Kos as the crisis deepens.

They are the latest of an estimated 1,500 people to arrive on the small picturesque island in just a week, with many now sleeping in doorways or on the streets, with nowhere to go.

New photographs released on Sunday show men determinedly paddling a dinghy through rough seas to reach the Kos shore, and groups of migrant men, laden with backpacks and wearing heavy clothing, pacing through the streets with nowhere to go.

Desperate mmigrants in a packed dinghy paddle into the shore of Kos. They were among thousands of migrants  to arrive in the small island in the past week as the Greek authorities say they are struggling to cope

Desperate mmigrants in a packed dinghy paddle into the shore of Kos. They were among thousands of migrants  to arrive in the small island in the past week as the Greek authorities say they are struggling to cope

The European Union has asked its member states to take in 40,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea who arrive in Greece and Italy over the next two years, but Britain has said it will not enter such a deal

The European Union has asked its member states to take in 40,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea who arrive in Greece and Italy over the next two years, but Britain has said it will not enter such a deal

Life vests used by the migrants are left discarded on the beach alongside children's play items. Kos is a popular tourist destination for Brits, and the influx of migrants has coincided with English schools' half term

Life vests used by the migrants are left discarded on the beach alongside children’s play items. Kos is a popular tourist destination for Brits, and the influx of migrants has coincided with English schools’ half term

A Greek coast guard (front left) leads Syrian refugees towards a temporary shelter on the Greek island of Kos

A Greek coast guard (front left) leads Syrian refugees towards a temporary shelter on the Greek island of Kos

The latest migrant crisis has hit at the same time as British families have flown out to the popular holiday destination during schools’ half term.

Around 30,000 migrants who have entered Greece in the first five months of 2015, and the country’s authorities say they are struggling to cope with the numbers. Kos has a resident population of around 33,000.

Many have resorted to using dinghies to paddle the choppy waters between Turkey and Greece, in a desperate bid to reach a better life. 

A mini-refugee camp has been established in Kos, with families sleeping on flattened cardboard boxes in rubbish-strewn streets, as they wait for the Greek authorities to process the necessary paperwork enabling them to travel to mainland Europe. 

Meanwhile hotel, cafe and bar owners say they are concerned that the number of refugees and negative reports will turn away visitors – with the tourism industry a vital source of revenue for the island.

While their applications for residency are processed, many of the migrant families are sleeping rough in Kos
These migrants, from Syria, were rescued by the Greek Coast Guard in the Aegean Sea when their boat got into trouble. Greece and Italy are the main points of entry into the European Union for refugees

These migrants, from Syria, were rescued by the Greek Coast Guard in the Aegean Sea when their boat got into trouble. Greece and Italy are the main points of entry into the European Union for refugees

A destroyed dinghy and life vests are left on the shore of Kos island after it has been used by migrants

Around 30,000 migrants who have entered Greece in the first five months of 2015, and 45,000 into Italy

The European Union (EU) faces ever-mounting pressure to take action over the migrant crisis, which stems from the Middle East and Africa.

It has asked its members to take in 40,000 asylum seekers from Syria and Eritrea who arrive in Greece and Italy over the next two years, but Britain has said it will not enter such a deal. 

Meanwhile the head of the European Union’s border agency Fabrice Leggeri said its ships are working closer to conflict-torn Libya than ever before – but will only enter the potentially potentially dangerous territorial waters to rescue migrants in trouble. 

Around 75,000 migrants have been picked up trying to enter Italy and Greece from Libya so far this year, and more than 1,800 are feared to have died. Most rescue emergencies happen some 40 nautical miles from Libya. 

DAILY MAIL