Afghans drown in bid to reach Greece
A small boat loaded with Afghan families smashed on to rocks and sank off an island in the Aegean, causing three women and five children to drown.
Athens accused neighbouring Turkey, from where the vessel set off, of doing little to stop thousands of illegal immigrants from arriving in Greece.
However, human rights groups urged Greece to improve its treatment of migrants and its handling of asylum applications.
The coastguard said high waves swept the flimsy boat with 18 on board on to a rocky shore on Lesvos yesterday. Seven men, a woman and a child – all Afghans - swam ashore and were taken to hospital for observation.
One of the 10 survivors, only identified as a Turkish man, was arrested on smuggling charges.
Under Greece’s immigration laws, traffickers involved in fatal accidents face life terms and a hefty fine.
Later, the coastguard rescued another 45 illegal immigrants found abandoned on an uninhabited islet off the island of Anafi in the south-eastern Aegean.
Lying five miles from Turkey’s western shore, Lesvos is one of the main points of arrival for illegal immigrants.
Deputy citizen’s protection minister Spyros Vougias said the incident merited an official complaint to Turkey.
“We need a solution to the problems Turkey causes by tolerating the actions of human traffickers,” he said. “There must be an end to this slave trade.”
Greece also wants more support from other EU members and has begun receiving assistance from the new border protection agency Frontex.
“Every day, Greek authorities have to handle the security of 300-400 people seeking a safe destination in Greece,” citizen’s protection minister Michalis Chryssochoides said. “We lack sufficient infrastructure, funds and cross-border cooperation.”
A spokeswoman for the United Nations refugee agency said today’s drownings showed that migrants from war-torn countries are not deterred by strict anti-migration policies.
“As long as there are wars and violations of human rights, people will continue to be desperate and risk their lives,” UN high commissioner for refugees spokeswoman Ketty Kehagioglou said.
