Greece Ignored Offer to Monitor Migrant Boat that Sank, EU Officials Say
Last week, a tragic incident occurred when an overcrowded migrant boat capsized, resulting in the deaths of at least 82 people. However, the United Nations believes that the death toll could be as high as 500. EU border officials have now revealed that Greece did not respond to an offer to send a plane to monitor the boat before it sank.
The fishing boat had set out from Libya and was first detected in international waters moving towards Greece on June 13th. Frontex, the EU’s border agency, spotted the boat and offered to send a plane back to monitor the situation. However, the Greek coast guard never replied to the offer, according to Frontex.
Greece has faced criticism for its response to the disaster, with many arguing that more could have been done to prevent the loss of life. In addition to this, the BBC has found evidence that contradicts Greece’s claim that the boat was on a safe and steady course. Analysis of the movement of other ships on the day of the incident suggests that the migrant boat hardly moved for at least seven hours before it capsized.
The Greek coast guard has not commented on the claim that they did not respond to the offer of further aerial help from Frontex. Officials have stated that the boat sank around 80km southwest of the coastal town Pylos after 02:04 on June 14th. Over 100 people were rescued, but survivors estimate that there may have been as many as 750 people on board, including around 100 children in the hold.
The interior minister of Pakistan, Rana Sanaullah, has revealed that at least 350 Pakistanis were on board the boat. He described the incident as having one of the largest death tolls in history, even surpassing terrorist incidents. Egyptians and Syrians are also among those feared dead.
In response to the tragedy, nine Egyptian men appeared in court in the Greek city of Kalamata on Monday. They are facing charges of negligent manslaughter, exposing lives to danger, causing a shipwreck, and human trafficking.
The incident has sparked further debate and concern about the ongoing migrant crisis and the need for improved measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
What was the offer made by Frontex to Greece regarding the monitoring of the migrant boat, and why did Greece fail to acknowledge it?
Tragic Boat Incident: Greece Ignored Offer to Monitor Migrant Boat, EU Officials Say
In a devastating turn of events last week, an overcrowded migrant boat capsized, leading to the deaths of at least 82 people, with fears that the death toll could soar as high as 500, according to the United Nations. Shockingly, it has now been revealed by EU border officials that Greece failed to respond to an offer to send a monitoring plane before the boat sank.
The fishing boat had departed from Libya and was initially spotted in international waters heading towards Greece on June 13th by Frontex, the EU’s border agency. Frontex promptly offered to dispatch a plane to monitor the situation, but Greece’s coast guard never acknowledged the offer, as disclosed by Frontex.
Criticism has been directed at Greece for its handling of the disaster, with many arguing that more could have been done to prevent the loss of lives. Furthermore, the BBC’s investigation has uncovered evidence contradicting Greece’s claim that the boat was following a safe and steady course. Analysis of the movements of other ships on the day of the incident suggests that the migrant boat remained virtually still for at least seven hours prior to capsizing.
As of now, the Greek coast guard has not commented on the allegation that they failed to respond to Frontex’s offer of aerial assistance. According to officials, the boat sank approximately 80km southwest of the coastal town Pylos after 02:04 on June 14th. Although over 100 individuals were rescued, survivors estimate that there might have been as many as 750 people onboard, including approximately 100 children in the hold.
Pakistan’s interior minister, Rana Sanaullah, has disclosed that at least 350 Pakistanis were among those on the boat. He described the incident as having one of the highest death tolls in history, surpassing even terrorist attacks. Egyptians and Syrians are also feared to be among the victims.
In response to this tragedy, nine Egyptian men have appeared in court in the Greek city of Kalamata on charges of negligent manslaughter, endangering lives, causing a shipwreck, and human trafficking.
This incident has reignited the debate and raised concerns about the ongoing migrant crisis and the urgent need for enhanced measures to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
It is deeply disturbing to learn that Greece failed to address the request to monitor the migrant boat, leading to such a tragic loss of life. This highlights the urgent need for stronger cooperation and effective measures to ensure the safety of individuals seeking refuge.
This tragic incident raises serious questions about Greece’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of migrants. Ignoring a request to monitor a migrant boat, leading to a devastating loss of life, is deeply concerning. It is crucial that authorities place the safety and protection of vulnerable individuals at the forefront of their policies and actions.