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A regional governor has called on the Greek government to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing where thousands of refugees are stranded due to border restrictions along the route towards Western Europe. About 13,000-14,000 people are trapped in Idomeni, while another 6,000-7,000 are being housed in refugee camps around the region, according to Apostolos Tzitzikostas, governor of Central Macedonia province.

“It’s a huge humanitarian crisis. I’ve asked the government to declare the area in a state of emergency,” Tzitzikostas said during a visit to Idomeni on Saturday to distribute aid to the Red Cross and other non-governmental organisations.

“This can’t continue for much longer.”

Aid agencies have expanded the Idomeni camp as new arrivals cause more overcrowding. However, living conditions are deteriorating and it is feared another 18,000 refugees elsewhere in Greece will eventually arrive at the border.

Hoda Abdel-Hamid, reporting from Idomeni, said: “Once it’s in place – and that will not be before today – it would mean there is a release of emergency funds, first 200,000 euros, to help out in this camp, provide more tents, food, blankets and facilities. There is no running water here.”

Up to 1,000 more refugees arrived on Saturday in the Greek port of Piraeus from the Aegean islands of Lesbos and Chios, the Greek coastguard reported.

The neighbouring former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia has stopped all but a trickle of Iraqi and Syrian refugees from crossing, following similar restrictions by countries further north on the route to western Europe.

The moves have caused a huge bottleneck in Greece, whose islands’ proximity to the Turkish coast has made it the preferred entry point for refugees and other migrants seeking better lives in Europe.

Greek authorities said only about 180 people crossed the border between 6am on Friday and the same time on Saturday morning.

“The former Yugoslav republic needs to open immediately to borders and the European Union needs to implement severe action against the countries that are closing borders today, whether they are members of the European Union or candidate members,” Tzitzikostas said. “This is unacceptable what they’re doing.”

Tzitzikostas said the region needed the emergency measures – or alternatively for the law to be amended – so that regional authorities can obtain the necessary emergency supplies and food to support the refugees and improve their living conditions. – Al Jazeera