UN Secretary-General António Guterres said on June 14 that he was horrified at the news of dozens more deaths in the Mediterranean after an overloaded boat reportedly capsized and sank off the coast of Greece.
Reports indicate that the bodies of at least 79 men, women, and children have been recovered, while hundreds more are feared dead or missing. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimates that around 400 people were on board the ill-fated vessel, and as of midday, 104 survivors have been brought ashore.
During a briefing in New York, UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric informed reporters that the secretary-general had previously emphasized the need for dignity and safety for individuals in search of a better life.
This tragic incident underscores the urgent need for member states to collaborate in establishing orderly and safe migration pathways and comprehensive measures to save lives at sea and reduce dangerous journeys.
According to IOM data released on Tuesday, nearly 3,800 individuals lost their lives on migration routes within and from the Middle East and North Africa last year, marking the highest number since 2017 when 4,255 deaths were recorded. In the first quarter of this year alone, 441 migrants died in the central Mediterranean. Since 2014, the total number of deaths or disappearances on all migration routes has exceeded 26,000.
Filippo Grandi, the head of the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), expressed his deep sorrow and anger over the latest tragedy at sea via a tweet. He called for the victims to rest in peace, the survivors to receive comfort and care, and governments to collaborate in establishing safer migration channels and collective solutions to address these ongoing challenges.
The UNHCR office in Greece stressed that the loss of lives in this incident could have been prevented. They highlighted the pressing need for more safe pathways for individuals forced to flee their homes, emphasizing that they should not be left with impossible and life-threatening choices.
According to Greek media reports, the vessel that sank off the coast of Pylos was en route to Italy after departing from the Libyan city of Tobruk.
This shipwreck represents the deadliest incident off the Greek coast this year.
Survivors were reportedly transported to the southwestern Greek town of Kalamata and are expected to be relocated to a camp outside Athens.
[Photo: © UNICEF/Ashley Gilbertson Volunteers help refugees arriving on the island of Lesbos, in the North Aegean region of Greece. (file)]
