Statement of the Minister of Migration and Asylum, Mr. Notis Mitarachi, regarding the maritime incident that occurred this morning off Lesvos
Regarding the maritime incident that occurred this morning off Lesvos, the Minister of Migration and Asylum, Mr. Notis Mitarachi made the following statement:
‘’We are deeply saddened that six people drowned in the sea near Lesvos. We are working with international organizations to try and establish the identities of those who drowned, and to contact their families.
Every life lost at sea is a tragedy and reinforces the need to smash the illegal trafficking gangs that exploit vulnerable people and cause such suffering.
It is time for the European Union and international organizations to act, stopping such crossings from Turkey, a safe country, as provided by the 2016 EU-Turkey Joint Statement”.