“I continue to stress the need for providing assistance and support to those rescued, ensuring adequate reception condition and access to asylum for those in need of international protection. The rights of men, women and children who were forced to leave, have to be protected at all times, in law and in practice” the UN Secretary General said.

Mr. Ki Moon is scheduled to meet President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos and Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras before travelling to the Aegean island of Lesvos on Saturday.