Greece's argument for not intervening 'does not hold up,' says UNHCR envoy after trawler sank off Greek coast. Here's what we know about the incident that left at least 78 migrants dead and hundreds more feared missing:
"It is due to systematic pushbacks that boats are trying to avoid Greece, navigating much longer routes, and risking lives at sea," says NGO AlarmPhone. / Photo: AA Archive
"From the merchant marine operations room was in repeated contact with the fishing boat. They steadily repeated that they wished to sail to Italy and did not want any contribution from Greece," the coastguard said. "The fishing boat was 25 to 30 metres long. Its deck was full of people, and we assume the interior was just as full," coastguard spokesperson Nikolaos Alexiou told state TV ERT on Wednesday.
Greece's former prime minister Alexis Tsipras said the migrants had actually"called for help" after talking to survivors at the western port of Kalamata. Government spokesperson Siakantaris confirmed on Friday that a rope was thrown to"stabilise" the boat, but the migrants had refused help, saying,"No help, go Italy."
This is around the time the Greek coastguard said an English speaker on board had insisted the vessel was"in no danger" and did not require assistance.
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