Authorities in Greece say they are hoping to clear an overcrowded refugee camp on its border with Macedonia border within two weeks.
They are trying to persuade those in the camps to move to nearby government-built shelters.
Some 14,000 people are camped out at the border near the village of Idomeni and conditions are getting increasingly desperate.
Nikos Toskas, a deputy minister for public order, says force will not be used to empty the camp.
We have to persuade them (to move) and we can't do that using tear gas. Half the people there are women and children," he said.
Authorities say around 800 people have so far agreed to leave the camp, but more are arriving daily.
Macedonia this week became the latest country to close its borders to all migrants and refugees this week after several Balkan countries and Austria began imposing restrictions in February.
Meanwhile, around 650 migrants have arrived in the main port of Athens from islands in the eastern Aegean Sea.
They continue to take the dangerous sea route despite the route into northern Europe remaining closed.
The had arrived from Lesbos and Chios.
Some could be seen leaving the port on foot while others made for the passenger terminals, which more than 3,000 people are currently using as a shelter.
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