UN agencies seek ‘decisive action’ from EU after Greece tragedy

World
By William

The International Organization for Migration and the UN Refugee Agency say the EU should put ‘security’ at the heart of the plan for the Mediterranean migratory route.

United Nations agencies have called for “urgent and decisive action” by the European Union to prevent further deaths in the Mediterranean following the suspected drowning of hundreds of people this week off the coast of Greece.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said in a statement Saturday that between 400 and 750 people were believed to have been on board the boat that capsized on Wednesday in the Ionian Sea, some 47 nautical miles ( 87km). ) from Pylos.

In what could be one of the worst tragedies of its kind in the Mediterranean, hundreds remain missing and feared dead as only 104 people have been rescued and 78 bodies recovered so far.

The sunken boat was reported to have been in distress since Tuesday morning, but a search and rescue operation by the Greek Coast Guard was only launched after the boat capsized on Wednesday morning, the UN agencies said.

“The duty to rescue without delay persons in distress at sea is a fundamental rule of international maritime law.” according to the IOM and UNHCR.

“Both shipmasters and states have a duty to render assistance to people in distress at sea, regardless of their nationality, status or the circumstances in which they are found, including on unseaworthy vessels, and regardless of the intentions of those on board,” they said. she.

The UN agencies said they welcome an investigation by Greece into the circumstances that led to the capsizing of the boat.

Joint efforts and coordination by the EU to prevent a recurrence were now necessary given the increased number of refugees and others departing via the Mediterranean route, the UNHCR said.

“The EU must put security and solidarity at the heart of its action in the Mediterranean,” Gillian Triggs, UNHCR’s assistant high commissioner for protection, said in the statement.

Federico Soda, director of the IOM emergency department, said the current approach of the Mediterranean migratory route states is not working.

“Year after year, it remains the most dangerous migration route in the world, with the highest mortality rate. States must work together and address the gaps in proactive search and rescue, rapid disembarkation and safe regular routes,” Soda said.

The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday called separately for action against smugglers and traffickers, and for the opening of more routes for safe migration in light of the Greek tragedy.

“What happened on Wednesday underscores the need to investigate and ensure that smugglers and traffickers are brought to justice,” Jeremy Laurence, spokesman for the UN Human Rights Office, told reporters in Geneva.

“The High Commissioner reiterated his call on states to open more regular migration channels and share responsibility, make arrangements for the safe and timely disembarkation of all people rescued at sea, and establish independent oversight and oversight of migration-related policies and practices.”

Dimitris Chaliotis, a Greek Red Cross volunteer who was part of the rescue efforts, said most of the people on board the ship were from Libya and Syria. In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, 104 survivors and 78 drowned people were brought ashore by Greek authorities, but no one has been found since.

Nine people have been arrested over the shipwreck, an official from Greece’s shipping ministry said.

The UN has recorded more than 20,000 deaths and disappearances in the central Mediterranean since 2014, making it the most dangerous migrant crossing in the world.

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