Via Ekathimerini – A sudden spike in the number of undocumented migrants arriving from neighboring Turkey has led to concern on the part of Greek authorities, who expect the next few days to reveal whether the rapid increase is a random occurence or the beginning of a new trend. Continue reading Concerns peak amid spike in migrant arrivals
Tag Archives: Mediterranean crossings
More than 630 migrants arrive on Greek islands since Friday
Via Ekathimerini – A total of 633 migrants and refugees have landed on Greece’s Aegean islands in the past three days, authorities said Monday.
Officials reported 256 arrivals on Chios, and 230 on Samos and 147 on Lesvos.
More than 12,000 migrants have crossed from Turkey to Greece this year, according to the IOM, a considerable drop in numbers compared to some 161,000 arrivals during the same period a year before.
Pushback from Greece to Turkey documented on camera
The Greek newspaper Ef.Syn published an article on a pushback from Greece to Turkey based on information by the Watch the Med Alarm:
In this video, taken by refugees trying to reach the Greek islands by boat on the 21st July, we see a boat with a Greek flag creating waves by circling around them. The refugees are desperately calling the organization for documentation and surveillance of dangerous incidents in the Mediterranean Sea, Watch the Med, to inform them that a pushback-operation back to Turkey is in progress.
Continue reading Pushback from Greece to Turkey documented on camera
A DRAMATIC DETERIORATION FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS ON LESBOS
MSF published a report on the psychological and physiological health conditions of asylum seekers in Lesvos:
“Our medical teams treating asylum seeking men, women and children in Lesbos wish to ring the alarm bell as to the further deterioration of the care and protection afforded to vulnerable people. In Lesbos, as in much of Greece, vulnerable people’s health and well-being are being put at risk by a grossly deficient vulnerability screening system and policies aimed at returning as many people as possible to Turkey.”
Greek coastguards pushed boat carrying 26 people back to Turkey
The Watch The Med Alarmphone reports about a pushback from Greek waters to Turkey, which took place in the early morning hours of Friday, 21th July:
“On Friday the 21st of July 2017, at 5.03am, the Alarm Phone shift team was alerted by a contact person to a group of 26 travellers, amongst them 2 children and a pregnant woman.. Continue reading Greek coastguards pushed boat carrying 26 people back to Turkey
Greek Coast Guard Rescues 170 Migrants in the Aegean
Via Greekreporter – The Hellenic Coast Guard announced on Friday the rescue of more than 170 migrants in search-and-rescue operations in the Aegean in the past 24 hours. The operations took place off Samos and Lesvos islands, adding to the number of 11,000 of asylum seekers who landed on the Greek islands coming from Turkey this year. Continue reading Greek Coast Guard Rescues 170 Migrants in the Aegean
From Assos to Lesbos: In the Aegean Sea
by Didem Danış, 5.7.2017
I saw lightning in the east
in a wink
then west
I saw the sun dripping
in its blood
and the sea agitated
and the past robbed of its books.
•••
Suffering Syrians, beautiful Syrians, Syrian brothers fleeing death.
You won’t reach the shores on rafts but will be born on beaches with the foam.
Lost gold dust you are, melted gold dust, scattered, dulled.
From abyss to abyss in the hollow of the sea of the Rum, with the star fish and her brother, the roving squid, the waves convey you under the light of Ursa Major, the Daughters of Na’sh.
From ‘Boat to Lesbos’, by Nouri Al-Jarrah
I came across Önder Tokuç, an artist based in Assos, whose “The Aegean Sea” collection has taken me back to the epic poem “Boat to Lesbos” written by Nouri Al-Jarrah. The Syrian poet who lives in exile since 1986 describes the Aegean Sea like a huge bloodstain. This was exactly what pushed Önder Tokuç to produce his powerful art works, consisting of ceramic statues and oil on canvas paintings.
Syrian acquitted for deaths of refugees in Farmakonisi case!
Via Refugee Support Aegean – The Felony Appeal Court of Dodecanese in Rhodes decided yesterday that the young Syrian – sentenced initially to 25 years imprisonment (sentence to be served) in the Farmakonisi case – was guilty of the transportation of the refugees for being in command of the boat sailing towards Greece. The court acquitted him for the risk to life and the deaths of the passengers of the vessel that sunk on 20.01.2014 off the coast of Farmakonisi causing the death of 12 people including eight children for which he was sentenced on first instance. Continue reading Syrian acquitted for deaths of refugees in Farmakonisi case!