Some 130 Greek nationals stranded in the UK because of the coronavirus lockdown are being flown back to Greece in return.
Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas said that a further 22 people are to be relocated to Switzerland.
The transfer, which was supposed to happen in March, took place under the Dublin Treaty, which allows families to be reunited if a close relative is already in the country of destination.Delayed by the coronavirus lockdown, it went ahead following an easing of Greek restrictions on 4 May. Deputy migration minister Giorgos Koumoutsakos said at Athens airport."Today the lives of the people who are leaving is changing."
"The coronavirus was an additional procedural challenge but as you can see it was not an obstacle," he added.Beth Gardiner-Smith, chief executive of refugee charity Safe Passage International, which supported the initiative, said in a statement:"The British and Greek governments have shown real leadership in reuniting these families despite the travel difficulties."
Thousands of migrants and refugees fleeing conflicts and poverty in their countries became stuck in Greece when the flow was stopped in 2016.
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