Greek authorities meet on migration as arrivals by land and sea are growing

THESSALONIKI, Greece — Greece’s authorities met on Friday to attempt to enhance coordination on migration as a bunch of 102 migrants crossed by land from Turkey and different elements of the Mediterranean nation noticed a spike in arrivals by sea.

The ministers for service provider marine, police and migration mentioned joint motion, a authorities assertion stated however supplied no particulars.

In the northeastern Evros area, police stated the 102 migrants – 55 Syrians, 46 Iraqis and a Lebanese lady – have been discovered close to the Turkish border and brought to an asylum-seeker registration heart. The group included 53 youngsters.

At the opposite finish of Greece, the coast guard stated 49 migrants have been rescued from a ship that had run out of gasoline, following an alert from Italian authorities. A service provider ship was diverted to select up its occupants 175 kilometers (109 miles) off the southwestern city of Pylos.

Out of that group, 47 have been transferred to a coast guard boat certain for the southern port of Kalamata, whereas a 21-year-old lady affected by sunburn was airlifted to the mainland for remedy, alongside along with her companion.

In June, a battered trawler smuggling as much as 750 folks from Libya to Italy sank southwest of Pylos, in one of many worst Mediterranean migrant disasters in years. Only 104 folks survived, whereas Greek authorities have been criticized for failing to intervene in time.

Also Friday, the coast guard stated it arrested two Turks who had allegedly ferried 27 migrants in a 10-meter (30-foot) speedboat throughout the Aegean Sea to the island of Evia, close to the mainland. They have been detained Thursday following a chase as they headed again to Turkey, having landed their passengers on an Evia seashore.

Four Afghans and two Pakistanis have been arrested on suspicion of making ready to drive the migrants off in a mini-bus and 4 automobiles. All eight confronted prices of belonging to a migrant-smuggling gang.

The same incident occurred final month on Evia, which is off the same old migrant-smuggling routes.

The coast guard additionally stated that 53 migrants crossing from the close by Turkish coast in small boats have been picked up in two incidents off the jap island of Samos on Thursday.

Greece is seeing an increase in sea arrivals of individuals fleeing battle or hardship within the Middle East and Africa. Its jap islands, near Turkey, have been lengthy a well-liked entry level however stricter deterrence insurance policies had not too long ago diminished arrivals there.