Rights groups say Greece has failed to properly investigate claims it mishandled migrant tragedy
1 year ago

Rights groups say Greece has failed to properly investigate claims it mishandled migrant tragedy

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — Two leading international human rights groups on Thursday accused Greek authorities of failing to properly investigate the circumstances around a migrant boat sinking six months ago that killed hundreds. In a joint report, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch said “little meaningful progress” has been made in examining allegations by some survivors that the rescue mission was delayed and mishandled. The two rights groups said they interviewed 21 survivors and five relatives of people still missing as well as representatives of the Greek coast guard and the Greek police. “The officers of the Greek coast guard … operate with a high sense of responsibility, professionalism and absolute respect for human life and human rights,” the agency said.

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History of this topic

UN refugee agency expresses concern over rise in fatal migrant shipwrecks in Greece
1 month, 1 week 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 …

At least eight migrants drown in shipwreck off Greek island of Samos
1 month, 2 weeks ago

At least eight migrants drown in shipwreck off Greek island of Samos

Al Jazeera  

Six children died in the disaster, while the police found 36 survivors alive on Samos and three people were rescued. Greece’s coast guard has found the bodies of eight migrants, including six children, who drowned off the island of Samos, authorities said, in the second migrant shipwreck in the Aegean Sea this month. Greek police found a further 36 people …

4 dead, 25 survivors in Greece after migrant smuggler allegedly forced his passengers overboard
Top News
2 months 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, 3 weeks 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 …

4 migrants die trying to reach eastern Greek island in small boat
3 months, 2 weeks ago

4 migrants die trying to reach eastern Greek island in small boat

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 At least four migrants died …

Greek coast guards open fire on migrant smuggling boat after alleged ramming, killing 1 passenger
4 months, 2 weeks 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 …

Greece denies new report of brutality to migrants, including claim dozens were left to die at sea
6 months, 3 weeks 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 …

UN agencies urge Greece to shed light on migrant shipwreck that killed hundreds one year ago
6 months, 3 weeks ago

UN agencies urge Greece to shed light on migrant shipwreck that killed hundreds one year ago

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — The United Nations’ refugee and migration agencies on Friday criticized Greece’s failure over the past year to shed light on one of the worst migrant shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea that left hundreds dead. UNHCR and IOM stressed the “critical” importance of a “comprehensive and conclusive” investigation in a joint statement on the first anniversary of the …

One year later, migrants who survived wreck off Greece seek justice and struggle to cope with life
6 months, 4 weeks 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, 3 weeks 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 …

Independent inquiry launched into shipwreck off Greece that left hundreds of migrants feared dead
1 year, 2 months ago

Independent inquiry launched into shipwreck off Greece that left hundreds of migrants feared dead

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s state ombudsman said Thursday that it’s launching an independent investigation into the coast guard’s handling of a maritime tragedy in June in which hundreds of migrants trying to reach Europe in an overloaded boat are feared to have drowned. The independent authority said it took the decision following “the expressed denial” of the Greek coast guard …

Survivors of a deadly migrant shipwreck off Greece file lawsuit over botched rescue claim
1 year, 3 months ago

Survivors of a deadly migrant shipwreck off Greece file lawsuit over botched rescue claim

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — Survivors of a deadly migrant shipwreck in southern Greece three months ago are suing authorities for failing to intervene to rescue passengers before their vessel capsized in international waters, their lawyers said Thursday. Many of the survivors dispute the official account that repeated offers of assistance by the coast guard were rejected and claim that a botched …

Hundreds more migrants reach the Greek islands in boats and smaller vessels from Turkey
1 year, 4 months ago

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

The Independent  

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Greek authorities meet on migration as arrivals by land and sea are increasing
1 year, 5 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, 5 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 …

Greece boat tragedy: What do we know about the coastguard’s role?
1 year, 6 months ago

Greece boat tragedy: What do we know about the coastguard’s role?

Al Jazeera  

The European Commission calls for ‘thorough and transparent investigation’ into the deadly sinking of a boat off Greece. “This is a rule of law problem because this is a systematic failure to rescue, the systematic non-application of the law of the sea and human rights obligations,” she said. “Under maritime law, Greece was obliged to launch an urgent search and …

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.” …

Greece finds no more survivors of capsized migrant boat; hundreds still feared missing
1 year, 6 months ago

Greece finds no more survivors of capsized migrant boat; hundreds still feared missing

LA Times  

Scores of migrants crowd the deck of a fishing boat that later capsized and sank off southern Greece. “The chances of finding are minimal,” retired Greek coast guard Adm. Nikos Spanos told state-run ERT television. The Greek coast guard said that it was notified of the boat’s presence late Tuesday morning, and observed by helicopter that it was “sailing on …

Rights group: Greece used migrants to expel asylum seekers
2 years, 9 months ago

Rights group: Greece used migrants to expel asylum seekers

Associated Press  

ATHENS, Greece — Human Rights Watch on Thursday accused authorities in Greece of allegedly using migrants to help carry out summary, illegal deportations of asylum seekers at the country’s border before they are able to register their claims. “They said most of these men wore black or commando-like uniforms and used balaclavas to cover their faces.” Greece’s government flatly denied …

Volunteer migrant rescuers on trial in Greece
3 years, 1 month ago

Volunteer migrant rescuers on trial in 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 A group of 24 volunteers …

EU commissioner visits refugee facilities on Greek islands
3 years, 9 months ago

EU commissioner visits refugee facilities on Greek islands

The Independent  

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Migrants accuse Greece of pushing them back out to sea
4 years, 3 months ago

Migrants accuse Greece of pushing them back out to sea

Associated Press  

DIKILI, Turkey — Shortly after reaching the Greek island of Lesbos, a group of Afghan 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. The Turkish coast guard says it rescued over 300 migrants “pushed back by Greek …

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