Migrants saved in Greek boat accident mourn relatives – and dispute claims

Survivors say coastguards refused to help them as vessel sank and stamped on hands of those clinging to Greek boat

• Helena Smith in Athens
• The Guardian, Monday 27 January 2014 20.14 GMT
  

  Fadi Mohamed, an Afghan who lost his family when the boat sank, describes seeing coastguards kicking a refugee. Photo: Nikolas Georgiou/Demotix/Corbis

  Even now, eight days later, they can both still taste the sea. Just as they can still feel the water slipping through their fingers as they desperately tried to bail out the boat.

Boat Carrying Sans-Papiers Immigrants Sinks In Aegean, Killing Four

At least four sans-papiers immigrants died and two were lost at sea while 13 were rescued from a boat which sank off Kuasadasi Gulf of Aydin province in Turkey’s Aegean coast on Friday, according to initial reports from the governorate of Aydin.

Greek Coast Guard drowned refugees near Farmakonisi during push-back attempt

Source: http://infomobile.w2eu.net/2014/01/22/greek-coast-guard-drowned-refugees-near-farmakonisi-during-push-back-attempt/

Eyewitnesses accuse the Greek Coast Guard of drowning migrants off the coast of the island of Farmakonisi on January 20th, 2013. 9 children and 3 women died!
As UNHCR reports: “According to survivors’ testimonies, the Coast Guard boat towing their vessel was heading, at high speed, towards the Turkish coast, when the tragic incident happened amid rough seas. The same witnesses said people were screaming for help, since there was a large number of children on the boat”.
 International organisations have condemned, several times, the refoulement policy against migrants entering Greece without papers.


12 immigrants missing in the Aegean

1.5 miles from Pharmakonisi island (near Leros island) a fishing boat, transporting undocumented immigrants, capsized today. 16 immigrants have been rescued and 12 are reported missing (9 children and 3 women).