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The Chancellor did not disclose how many migrants were to be admitted, but said it was in response to a request from the Greek Prime Minister.
Merkel also hoped that another European Union (EU) country would join the initiative.
“As a first step, we are offering Greece to take in refugees who are minors,” Merkel said, adding that more steps would follow.
A source close to the talks told the AFP news agency that Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron have agreed on an initiative that would allow EU member states to take in about 400 minors from the fire-ravaged Camp Moria.
The source said that migrants are planned to be “split” between EU member states and that the number may vary depending on the progress of negotiations with other countries.
During his visit to Corsica, Macron called the initiative a gesture of European solidarity.
“We will try to get as many European countries as possible to take in refugees, especially minors,” Macron said.
Merkel said Germany would help build new and best homes for people left homeless by the fire.
In addition to France and Germany, the Netherlands also offered to host migrants from the Moria camp today. The Netherlands has stated that it is ready to accommodate 100 unaccompanied minors and families with children.
It has already been reported that a number of large-scale fires broke out in and around Greece’s largest migrant camp, the Moria camp on the island of Lesbos, on Wednesday night, leading to the evacuation of most of the camp’s occupants.
Moria’s camp is crowded. According to the latest figures, the camp, which is officially designed to accommodate 2,757 people, is home to 12,700 asylum seekers, including some 4,000 children.
No fires have been reported.
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