Greek Coast Guard vessel collides with migrant boat, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 individuals.
As the Mediterranean continues to witness tragic incidents involving migrants seeking refuge, a recent collision in the Aegean Sea has raised urgent concerns about maritime safety and humanitarian support. The crisis highlights the ongoing plight of those navigating treacherous waters in pursuit of a better life, while also shedding light on the challenges that nations face in handling complex migration issues amid evolving policies.
A boat carrying migrants and asylum seekers collided with a Greek coastguard vessel in the Aegean Sea near the island of Chios, resulting in the deaths of at least 14 individuals, according to the coastguard. The incident occurred around 9 PM local time on a recent Tuesday off the coast of Chios’s Mersinidi area, as reported by the Athens-Macedonian News Agency (AMNA).
The coastguard confirmed that 26 people were rescued and taken to a hospital in Chios, including 24 migrants and two coastguard officers. Concerns remain about the number of individuals aboard the migrant boat at the time of the collision. Among the injured are seven children and a pregnant woman, indicating the vulnerable demographics often caught in such crises.
A search-and-rescue operation continues in the area, involving patrol boats, helicopters, and divers, as local authorities respond to this maritime tragedy. Footage shared by Greece’s Ta Nea newspaper showed at least one individual being transported from a vessel into a vehicle adorned with emergency lights, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
An unnamed coastguard official stated that the collision occurred after the migrant boat “maneuvered toward” their vessel, which had instructed the boat to turn back. Greece has long been a crucial transit point for migrants and refugees from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia attempting to reach Europe, particularly during the height of the migration crisis in 2015 and 2016, when nearly one million people landed on its shores, including Chios, from nearby Turkiye.
Recent years have seen a decline in the number of arrivals, attributed in part to Greece’s increasingly stringent asylum policies. These measures include tightened border controls and intensified sea patrols to manage the influx of migrants. However, Greece has faced scrutiny for its treatment of migrants and asylum seekers approaching by sea, particularly following a devastating shipwreck in 2023 that claimed hundreds of lives and sparked allegations of coastguard misconduct.
The European Union’s border agency acknowledged last year that it was reviewing 12 cases of potential human rights violations by Greece, including claims of pushbacks against asylum seekers at the country’s frontiers. Despite these allegations, Greece has vehemently denied accusations of human rights violations and any attempts to deter asylum seekers from its shores.
Ongoing dialogues around migration, human rights, and national policy remain crucial in addressing the complexities inherent in the region’s humanitarian challenges. The situation continues to evolve, requiring a balance between ensuring safety at sea and providing protection to those in need.
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