The refugees cast adrift in the Mediterranean
2 years, 5 months ago

The refugees cast adrift in the Mediterranean

Al Jazeera  

Listen to this story: Naima*, 50, first came to Istanbul with her two sons in November 2019, to join her husband, who was weakening with cancer. But the Greek islands, which have hosted hundreds of thousands of foreigners fleeing war and unrest since the mass migration began in 2015, are at the centre of stories of asylum seekers arriving and then “disappearing” from beaches, only to be picked up later by the Turkish Coast Guard bobbing in orange life rafts. Then there are “sea pushbacks”, whereby a Hellenic Coast Guard boat seems to deliberately damage a dinghy that arrives in Greek waters, and then tows it back towards Turkish waters. Ali says that the men destroyed the boat’s engine by hitting it with “some kind of pole” and forced the group onto two orange lifeboats. “ When asked by Al Jazeera to comment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in an emailed statement, “We are informing you that the Greek political authorities do not have the power to comment and contest decisions of the Greek courts, therefore Greek justice is independent.” A response from the authorities Greece’s National Transparency Authority published a press release on March 29, 2022 absolving Greek authorities of responsibility in the pushbacks cited in media reports.

Human Rights Refugees Syria Turkey Men Fundamental Rights Greece Nta Coast Greek Turkish European Sea Cooper Her Sons Istanbul Guard Authorities Ngo Coast Guard Greek Authorities Gruber Frontex Lesbos Hellenic Samos Pushbacks Turkish Waters Life Rafts Naima  adrift  turkey  mediterranean  greek  men  european  cast  coast  refugees  authorities  sea  guard  pushbacks

History of this topic

8 dead, 18 rescued as speedboat carrying migrants capsizes near Greek island of Rhodes
4 days, 4 hours ago

8 dead, 18 rescued as speedboat carrying migrants capsizes near Greek island of Rhodes

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greeece — A speedboat carrying migrants capsized Friday morning off the eastern Greek island of Rhodes, leaving eight dead, Greek authorities said. The coast guard said the incident occurred while the speedboat was carrying out “dangerous maneuvers” to try and evade a patrol vessel, causing migrants to fall into the sea. AP AUDIO: 8 dead, 18 rescued as speedboat …

At least eight migrants drown after boat collision off Greece’s coast
4 days, 13 hours ago

At least eight migrants drown after boat collision off Greece’s coast

Al Jazeera  

Authorities say at least eight people died after the driver lost control of the boat as he attempted to flee. At least eight refugees and migrants have drowned off the coast of Greece after the coastguard chased a boat they were on in the Aegean Sea. The speedboat capsized near the island of Rhodes as it attempted to flee a …

UN refugee agency expresses concern over rise in fatal migrant shipwrecks in Greece
3 weeks, 3 days ago

UN refugee agency expresses concern over rise in fatal migrant shipwrecks in Greece

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — The United Nations refugee agency has voiced concern at a rise in deaths of migrants trying to reach Greece by sea in small boats from Turkey, following two fatal shipwrecks this week. The UNHCR representative in Greece, Maria Clara Martin, said the migrant deaths “highlight the urgent need for long-term responses and safer and credible alternatives” for …

Bodies of migrants found off Greek island after smuggler ‘pushed them overboard’
1 month, 2 weeks ago

Bodies of migrants found off Greek island after smuggler ‘pushed them overboard’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Survivors told authorities they had …

4 dead, 25 survivors in Greece after migrant smuggler allegedly forced his passengers overboard
Top News
1 month, 2 weeks ago

4 dead, 25 survivors in Greece after migrant smuggler allegedly forced his passengers overboard

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities have recovered the bodies of four people from the sea just off the coast of the eastern Aegean island of Rhodes, while another 25 people have been found alive on land after a migrant smuggler allegedly forced his passengers overboard while transferring them from Turkey to Greece, the coast guard said Wednesday. Survivors told authorities …

2 still missing from migrant boat that sank south of Greece
2 months, 1 week ago

2 still missing from migrant boat that sank south of Greece

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Rescuers searched the Mediterranean Sea …

Two Missing from Migrant Boat Sinking off Greece's Southernmost Island
2 months, 1 week ago

Two Missing from Migrant Boat Sinking off Greece's Southernmost Island

Associated Press  

Two people are missing after a boat carrying 100 migrants sank south of Greece. One body has been recovered, while 97 survivors were rescued by a Turkish-flagged cargo ship. Greek authorities have arrested two survivors, men aged 26 and 24, as suspected smugglers. The Coast Guard is continuing the search and rescue operation off southern Greece.

Smugglers throwing migrants off speedboats in Aegean Sea to avoid arrest, says Greek coast guard
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Smugglers throwing migrants off speedboats in Aegean Sea to avoid arrest, says Greek coast guard

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — Smugglers ferrying migrants from Turkey to Greece’s eastern islands have in two cases adopted the new and dangerous tactic of knocking some passengers off their speedboats into the sea to avoid capture by pursuing coast guards, Greek authorities say. The Greek coast guard said Tuesday that in one case over the weekend a Palestinian and an Afghan …

Greek coast guards open fire on migrant smuggling boat after alleged ramming, killing 1 passenger
4 months ago

Greek coast guards open fire on migrant smuggling boat after alleged ramming, killing 1 passenger

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — The crew of a Greek coast guard vessel opened fire on a speedboat smuggling migrants — including several children — from neighboring Turkey killing one passenger, Greek authorities said Friday. A coast guard statement said shots were fired, first into the air and then at the speedboat’s engine “to avert the direct threat to the patrol boat …

Greek authorities rescued 147 migrants trying to reach the country in small boats
4 months ago

Greek authorities rescued 147 migrants trying to reach the country in small boats

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities rescued nearly 150 migrants trying to reach the country by sea in small boats over a 24-hour period, officials said Wednesday, including one that had 115 people crammed into it. A coast guard statement said the vessel was located in distress Tuesday off the eastern Aegean Sea island of Lesbos that’s close to the Turkish …

Cruise ship rescues 77 migrants in sailing boat found southwest of Greece
4 months, 2 weeks ago

Cruise ship rescues 77 migrants in sailing boat found southwest of Greece

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — A cruise ship rescued 77 migrants found overnight in a sailboat in distress far off the southwestern coast of Greece and was transporting them to the nearest major port, Greek authorities said Tuesday. A passing Maltese-flagged cargo ship found the boat 112 nautical miles southwest of the town of Pylos in the early hours of Tuesday, the …

Probe called over Greek coast guard's role in deaths of migrants
6 months ago

Probe called over Greek coast guard's role in deaths of migrants

China Daily  

A migrant saved from the Mediterranean Sea on Monday is assisted in Roccella Ionica, southern Italy. VALERIA FERRARO/AP The main opposition party in Greece has called for an inquiry after allegations made by the BBC that the actions of the country's coast guard service has led to the deaths of dozens of migrants over the past three years, with nine …

Probe called over Greek coast guard's role in deaths of migrants
6 months ago

Probe called over Greek coast guard's role in deaths of migrants

China Daily  

By JULIAN SHEA in London | China Daily Global | Updated: 2024-06-19 09:19 A migrant saved from the Mediterranean Sea on Monday is assisted in Roccella Ionica, southern Italy. VALERIA FERRARO/AP The main opposition party in Greece has called for an inquiry after allegations made by the BBC that the actions of the country's coast guard service has led to …

Greece denies new report of brutality to migrants, including claim dozens were left to die at sea
6 months ago

Greece denies new report of brutality to migrants, including claim dozens were left to die at sea

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — Greece on Monday denied a new report that accused its coast guard of brutally preventing migrants from reaching Greek shores, which also alleged that the practice had resulted in dozens of deaths. Migrant charities and human rights groups have repeatedly accused Greece’s coast guard and police of illegally preventing arriving migrants from seeking asylum by surreptitiously returning …

One year later, migrants who survived wreck off Greece seek justice and struggle to cope with life
6 months, 1 week ago

One year later, migrants who survived wreck off Greece seek justice and struggle to cope with life

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — Desperate hands clutched at Ali Elwan’s arms, legs and neck, and screams misted his ears, as he spat out saltwater and fought for three hours to keep afloat in the night, dozens of miles from land. “It is unconscionable that one year since this horrific tragedy, the investigation into the potential liability of Coast Guard has barely …

Greek defense team says 9 Egyptians accused of causing deadly shipwreck were misidentified as crew
7 months, 1 week ago

Greek defense team says 9 Egyptians accused of causing deadly shipwreck were misidentified as crew

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — The legal defense team for nine Egyptian men due to go on trial in southern Greece next week accused of causing one of the Mediterranean’s deadliest shipwrecks said Thursday they will argue that Greece has no jurisdiction in the case, and insisted their clients were innocent survivors who have been unjustly prosecuted. Greek authorities have rejected accusations …

After record year, Tunisia reports migrant deaths from shipwreck near Libyan waters
10 months, 1 week ago

After record year, Tunisia reports migrant deaths from shipwreck near Libyan waters

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Tunisia's coast guard retrieved the …

Hundreds more migrants reach the Greek islands in boats and smaller vessels from Turkey
1 year, 3 months ago

Hundreds more migrants reach the Greek islands in boats and smaller vessels from Turkey

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Hundreds more migrants reach the Greek islands in boats and smaller vessels from Turkey
1 year, 3 months ago

Hundreds more migrants reach the Greek islands in boats and smaller vessels from Turkey

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — More than 450 migrants reached Greece’s Aegean Sea islands in boats from Turkey in less than two days, Greek authorities said Thursday, including 51 people who made landfall on the high-end resort of Mykonos. In the Mykonos incident, a Greek coast guard statement said a motor yacht that had landed 42 men, eight women and a child …

Greece’s coast guard rescues 52 people from migrant sailboat anchored off remote uninhabited island
1 year, 4 months ago

Greece’s coast guard rescues 52 people from migrant sailboat anchored off remote uninhabited island

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s coast guard on Tuesday rescued 52 people crammed onto a sailing boat anchored off an uninhabited island far from the country’s mainland, authorities said. Separately Tuesday, 19 people were rescued from a dinghy that had lost steering northeast of the eastern Aegean island of Samos. Another 18 in a different dinghy were picked up later in …

Greek authorities meet on migration as arrivals by land and sea are increasing
1 year, 4 months ago

Greek authorities meet on migration as arrivals by land and sea are increasing

Associated Press  

THESSALONIKI, Greece — Greece’s government met on Friday to try to improve coordination on migration as a group of 102 migrants crossed by land from Turkey and other parts of the Mediterranean country saw a spike in arrivals by sea. In the northeastern Evros region, police said the 102 migrants — 55 Syrians, 46 Iraqis and a Lebanese woman — …

Greek authorities charge 2 migrants for destroying dinghy carrying 40 as rescue boat approached
1 year, 4 months ago

Greek authorities charge 2 migrants for destroying dinghy carrying 40 as rescue boat approached

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities rescued 40 migrants from a sinking dinghy in the Aegean Sea on Wednesday and charged two of them with causing a shipwreck and endangering lives for allegedly scuttling the flimsy vessel as a coast guard boat approached. A coast guard statement said all 40 people were in good health after being picked up from the …

Europe’s border agency seeks answers from Greece on alleged illegal deportations of migrants
1 year, 5 months ago

Europe’s border agency seeks answers from Greece on alleged illegal deportations of migrants

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — The European Union’s border agency is seeking “clarifications and information” from Greece’s coast guard on two alleged cases of migrants who crossed by boat being illegally deported back to Turkey, a European official said Friday. But Athens has been repeatedly accused of dumping migrants who enter Greek waters back inside Turkey’s maritime jurisdiction without allowing them to …

Greek leader blasts critics of rescue effort for sunken migrant vessel
1 year, 6 months ago

Greek leader blasts critics of rescue effort for sunken migrant vessel

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — Authorities continued to search Saturday for victims and survivors of a trawler that sank off the coast of Greece with as many as 750 migrants on board, as conservative leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis blasted critics of the rescue operation. The Greek coast guard announced Saturday that one Greek Navy frigate and four other vessels were operating 47 nautical …

Did migrants reject help before deadly Greek wreck, or beg for it? Coast guard, activists disagree
1 year, 6 months ago

Did migrants reject help before deadly Greek wreck, or beg for it? Coast guard, activists disagree

Associated Press  

This much is clear: On June 9, an old steel fishing trawler left eastern Libya for Italy, carrying far too many people. Activists, migration experts and opposition politicians have criticized Greek authorities for not acting earlier to rescue the migrants, even though a coast guard vessel escorted the trawler for hours and watched helplessly as it sank. According to the …

Greek coast guard defends actions as more than 500 migrants heading for Europe feared dead in wreck
1 year, 6 months ago

Greek coast guard defends actions as more than 500 migrants heading for Europe feared dead in wreck

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — The Greek coast guard on Friday defended its response to a ship that went down off the country’s south coast and left more than 500 migrants presumed drowned. Greek coast guard spokesman Nikos Alexiou said that both coast guard and private ships repeatedly offered by radio and loudspeaker to help the vessel Wednesday while it was in …

Search for loved ones, truth in Greece after migrant boat tragedy
1 year, 6 months ago

Search for loved ones, truth in Greece after migrant boat tragedy

Al Jazeera  

Hundreds of people are missing after a refugee-filled vessel capsizes off Greece’s west coast, killing dozens. “I don’t know if you can consider these men lucky when there are people at the bottom of the sea,” said Mihalis Yiannakos, the head of Greece’s public hospital doctors’ union. “The trawler didn’t ask for any help from the coastguard or from Greece.” …

Hundreds Still Feared Missing After Sinking Of Migrant Boat In Greece
1 year, 6 months ago

Hundreds Still Feared Missing After Sinking Of Migrant Boat In Greece

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING KALAMATA, Greece — Rescue workers transferred the bodies of dead migrants to refrigerated trucks as a major search continued Thursday for possible survivors of a sea disaster in southern Greece. At least 78 bodies have been recovered after a fishing boat crammed with migrants seeking to make it from Libya to Italy capsized and sank a day …

Huge search seeks survivors of migrant boat sinking off Greece; hundreds feared missing
1 year, 6 months ago

Huge search seeks survivors of migrant boat sinking off Greece; hundreds feared missing

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “It's one of the biggest operations ever in the …

Greece arrests nine survivors from capsized refugee ship
1 year, 6 months ago

Greece arrests nine survivors from capsized refugee ship

Al Jazeera  

Egyptian nationals have been arrested on suspicion of belonging to the smuggling ring that arranged the deadly voyage. The Greek coastguard says nine survivors from the refugee ship that sank off the country’s coast have been arrested on suspicion of belonging to the smuggling ring that arranged the voyage. The arrests were “the result of two days of interviews with …

After refugee boat disaster off Greece, hundreds feared dead
1 year, 6 months ago

After refugee boat disaster off Greece, hundreds feared dead

Al Jazeera  

Authorities say they are unlikely to find any more survivors after one of the worst refugee tragedies in Europe. “The chances of finding are minimal,” retired Greek coast guard admiral Nikos Spanos told state-run ERT television. ‘Should be a wake-up call for EU governments’ Aerial pictures released by the Greek coast guard showed dozens of people on the boat’s upper …

A look at migration trends behind the latest shipwreck off Greece
1 year, 6 months ago

A look at migration trends behind the latest shipwreck off Greece

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Wednesday's deadly shipwreck off southern …

A look at migration trends behind the latest shipwreck off Greece
1 year, 6 months ago

A look at migration trends behind the latest shipwreck off Greece

Associated Press  

ROME — Wednesday’s deadly shipwreck off southern Greece, involving a large boat carrying migrants that capsized after apparently rebuffing offers of help, is just the latest case of smugglers packing vessels full of desperate people willing to risk their lives to reach continental Europe. Greek coast guard, navy and merchant vessels and aircraft launched a vast search and rescue operation …

78 dead after boat with refugees and migrants sinks off Greece
1 year, 6 months ago

78 dead after boat with refugees and migrants sinks off Greece

Al Jazeera  

The accident occurred in international waters in the Ionian Sea and prompted an extensive rescue operation complicated by strong winds. “It’s one of the biggest operations ever in the Mediterranean,” Greek coastguard spokesman Nikos Alexiou told state ERT TV. Ioannis Zafiropoulos, deputy mayor of the southern port city of Kalamata, where survivors were taken, said his information indicated there were …

At least 78 migrants dead, dozens feared missing after vessel capsizes off Greece
1 year, 6 months ago

At least 78 migrants dead, dozens feared missing after vessel capsizes off Greece

LA Times  

Survivors of a migrant shipwreck gather Wednesday in a warehouse at the port in Kalamata, Greece, about 150 miles southwest of Athens. A fishing boat carrying migrants capsized and sank off the coast of Greece on Wednesday night, authorities said, leaving at least 78 people dead and many dozens missing in one of the worst disasters of its kind this …

The EU’s secret weapon against refugees — time
1 year, 7 months ago

The EU’s secret weapon against refugees — time

Al Jazeera  

When boats with refugees are at risk of capsizing in the Mediterranean Sea, the speed of rescue operations is essential. This vacuum has expanded over time: A report published in March 2023 by the Civil Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, a network of non-governmental actors engaging in Search and Rescue activities in the Mediterranean, concluded that “at sea, Maltese authorities regularly …

‘Ready for rescue’: Saving refugee lives in the Mediterranean Sea
2 years, 4 months ago

‘Ready for rescue’: Saving refugee lives in the Mediterranean Sea

Al Jazeera  

Listen to this story: Geo Barents Ship, Mediterranean Sea - It was Wednesday, May 11, 2022, and a small fishing boat drifted in the Mediterranean, some 240km south of the coast of Malta. The boat slowly moved north, towards Malta’s search and rescue region, until Wednesday evening, when the passengers were safely out of the Libyan SRR, where, if they …

Three dead, dozens missing as refugee boat sinks off Greek coast
3 years ago

Three dead, dozens missing as refugee boat sinks off Greek coast

Al Jazeera  

Just two of the dozens of people on board were wearing life jackets, the coastguard says. Greek authorities have ramped up a sea-and-air search and rescue operation in the Aegean Sea after a migrant smuggling vessel sank, leaving at least three people dead and dozens reported missing. Rescue efforts The coast guard said a navy frigate joined four coast guard …

Greece rescues cargo ship carrying 400 migrants and refugees
3 years, 1 month ago

Greece rescues cargo ship carrying 400 migrants and refugees

Al Jazeera  

The Greek coastguard says the rescue operation was ‘one of the largest’ ever carried out in the Eastern Mediterranean. Greece has mounted a rescue operation for a cargo ship carrying about 400 migrants and refugees after it sent out a distress signal off the island of Crete, according to the country’s coastguard. The Greek coastguard quoted passengers as saying the …

Refugees accuse Greece of pushing them back out to sea
4 years, 2 months ago

Refugees accuse Greece of pushing them back out to sea

Al Jazeera  

Shortly after reaching the Greek island of Lesbos, a group of Afghan refugees and migrants say their hopes for a new life in Europe were cut short when Greek authorities rounded them up, mistreated them, shoved them into life rafts and abandoned them at sea. Associated Press news agency journalists on a Turkish government-organised coastguard ride-along were on board the …

Migrants allege Greece is pushing them back to sea
4 years, 3 months ago

Migrants allege Greece is pushing them back to sea

CNN  

North Aegean Sea — The warm glow of a bright orange life raft lights up the pitch black night. “Greece has every right as every sovereign state to defend its borders, we have a very tough but very fair border policy,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour in August. In response to CNN’s queries about the alleged …

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