Greece ship disaster
The sinking of a fishing boat carrying hundreds of migrants and refugees off southern Greece on June 14, 2023, has been described as one of Europe’s worst migrant disasters. The boat was estimated to be carrying 400 or more people, with up to 100 children in the hold. The Greek authorities rescued 104 survivors and recovered 79 bodies, but hundreds more are still missing. The tragedy has sparked outrage and calls for an investigation into the role of smugglers and the response of the Greek coastguard.
The boat had departed from Libya a few days earlier, aiming to reach Italy. It was spotted by a European Union border agency plane on Tuesday morning, which alerted the Greek authorities. According to the Greek coastguard, they contacted the boat and offered assistance, but the captain refused, saying he was heading to Italy and did not need help.
However, this account has been challenged by some of the survivors, who said they were in distress and asked for help. They also claimed that they were ordered by smugglers to stay below deck and not to use their phones or signal for help. Some said they were beaten or threatened with guns if they disobeyed.
The Greek authorities have maintained that those on board said they did not want help and were not in danger until just before their boat sank. They said they launched a full-scale rescue operation as soon as they received a distress signal at around 19:00 GMT. They also said they arrested nine people, including the captain and eight crew members, on suspicion of smuggling.
The United Nations Migration Agency (IOM) has called for an independent investigation into Greece’s handling of the disaster, amid claims that more action should have been taken earlier to save lives. The IOM said it was “deeply saddened” by the loss of life and urged all countries to uphold their obligations under international law to assist people in distress at sea.
The IOM also condemned the role of smugglers who put people on unsafe boats and exploit their desperation. “They are not sending them to Europe, they are sending them to death,” said EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson. “This is what they’re doing and it’s absolutely necessary to prevent it.”
The disaster has highlighted the ongoing refugee crisis in Europe, where tens of thousands of people flee war, persecution, climate change and poverty every year, risking treacherous routes across land and sea. According to the IOM, more than 1,000 people have died or gone missing while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea so far this year.
Many of those on board the sunken boat were from Pakistan, which is facing its worst economic crisis in decades. More than 300 Pakistani nationals have been killed in the sinking, according to Pakistan’s Senate chairman Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared Monday a national day of mourning for those who died and ordered a “high-level inquiry” into the incident.
Other nationalities on board included Afghans, Bangladeshis, Egyptians, Moroccans and Somalis. Some of them had family members waiting for them in Europe, hoping for a better future. Their stories have touched many hearts and sparked calls for solidarity and compassion.
As Europe grapples with how to deal with migration flows and protect human rights, this tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of a failed system.