Since 2015, Greece has been a key entry point for irregular migrants and refugees into the European Union.

On Monday, the Hellenic Coast Guard confirmed that six children and two women have died after a migrant boat capsized off the Greek island of Samos, sparking renewed calls for enhanced cross-border efforts to combat illegal migration.

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So far, 39 individuals have been rescued, though the exact number of people on board and their nationalities remain unknown, according to coast guard sources.

Maritime and Insular Policy Minister Christos Stylianides called the incident “a tragic reminder of the criminal actions of trafficking networks.” He stressed the need for systematic and joint cooperation at maritime borders between Greece and Türkiye, which he noted is already producing tangible results.

“The shipwreck in Samos, with the loss of eight innocent lives, including six children, fills us with sadness and anger. The networks of traffickers, these ruthless criminals who trade in human lives, will find us face to face with determination to eliminate them,” said the Greek Migration Minister Nikos Panayotopulos.

Greece has been a key entry point for irregular migrants and refugees into the European Union since 2015, with over 1 million arrivals recorded since then. Tragically, hundreds have perished at sea during these journeys.

Data released earlier this month by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency Frontex show a continued rise in migration flows through the Eastern Mediterranean this year, with a 14-percent increase in the first 10 months compared to the same period in 2023.

From January to November 2024, approximately 55,000 arrivals were recorded in Greek waters. The majority of new arrivals in Greece this year were Syrians, Afghans, and Egyptians, the data show.

teleSUR/ JF Source: Xinhua – EFE

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