Lesbos refugee camp has lead poisoning, UN group found

A refugee camp in Lesbos has been contaminated by lead poisoning, according to Human Rights Watch.

The reported health hazard, which could be fatal, could affect over 7,000 of asylum seekers and site workers.

The cause of the lead poisoning could be due to the facility's location, which was formerly a military firing range in the 1920s.

If any of the refugees find unexploded and live ammunition that has not been cleared away from the site, it could also be dangerous and could contaminate the soil.

The Greek government has been urged to provide more transparency over the test findings, which took seven weeks to be released and accused of turning a blind eye to the issue.

While the authorities in Athens have claimed that only 6% of the camp was previously used as a military shooting range, but pledged to eliminate the risk by bringing in new soil and gravel for the facility.

The island located on the Aegean Sea has been at the forefront of the refugee crisis, with hundreds of thousands of Syrians making the dangerous journey towards Europe.