Tragedy struck off the Greek island of Lesbos as four migrants—a boy, a girl, and two women—were confirmed dead after their boat sank in the early hours of Thursday. Greece’s coastguard rescued 23 survivors, but the total number of passengers remains unknown, prompting an ongoing search and rescue operation. The incident highlights the continuing risks faced by migrants attempting dangerous sea crossings to Europe.
Tag: migration crisis
Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged the EU to speed up the return of illegal migrants denied asylum during a Brussels summit on March 20, 2025. Highlighting the need for a new “safe countries” list, he aims to bolster Greece’s deportation efforts, a topic echoing the 2015-2016 crisis when over a million crossed its borders.
The Hellenic Coast Guard rescued 35 undocumented migrants from a speedboat near Samos, arresting a 26-year-old Afghan man identified as the smuggler. The migrants were transferred to a controlled facility, and an investigation into the trafficking operation is underway.
At least five migrants have died, dozens are missing, and over 200 have been rescued in a series of operations near the Greek island of Crete, the Coast Guard reported. Multiple vessels, helicopters, and international forces, including the Italian Navy and Frontex, are involved in ongoing rescue efforts following separate incidents driven by the surge in migration linked to Middle Eastern conflicts.
A U.N. expert has accused Greece of failing to identify and support victims of sex trafficking at a migrant centre on the island of Samos. Siobhán Mullally, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on trafficking, detailed systemic neglect, including cases of women showing clear signs of exploitation who received no adequate care. One victim, who gave birth at the centre, was forced to wear her labour-stained clothing for weeks. The allegations highlight broader concerns about Greece’s ability to address trafficking amid rising migrant arrivals.
Greek authorities have recovered the bodies of four migrants after their boat sank off Rhodes in the Aegean Sea. A search-and-rescue operation is ongoing, with 25 survivors located on land. Greece continues to be a key entry point for migrants seeking to reach the European Union.
A disturbing TikTok video posted by a coach driver has revealed the dangerous lengths migrants will go to in an attempt to enter Greece illegally. The footage, filmed in Istanbul, shows two individuals wedged in the luggage compartment of the coach, struggling to escape the cramped space. The driver notes that such incidents are becoming increasingly common, raising serious concerns about the pressures on the Greek-Turkish border and the need for enhanced border controls and regulations to ensure the safety of travelers.
Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis called for intensified international efforts to stabilize Lebanon and prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis, following his participation in a Paris conference on Lebanese sovereignty. He emphasised Greece’s commitment to peace and ongoing humanitarian aid, working closely with Lebanese officials and the broader international community to address the region’s urgent challenges.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will attend the MED9 Summit in Cyprus, where Mediterranean EU leaders will discuss escalating tensions in the Middle East, migration challenges, and European economic competitiveness. Mitsotakis is expected to emphasise the importance of securing the EU’s external borders and enhancing cooperation with third countries on migration, while also addressing the need for a coordinated EU response to the crisis in the Middle East. The summit serves as a precursor to next week’s European Council Meeting.
An Iraqi survivor of a shipwreck off Italy’s coast has been arrested for allegedly murdering a 16-year-old girl.
Confession by Marina Satti: Next to my father’s grave, there are unmarked graves of drowned refugees
Marina Satti was shocked when she revealed in an interview that her father’s grave is in Komotini, due to the absence of a Muslim cemetery in Athens. Next to it are nameless graves of drowned refugees.
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