The number of migrants from Libya who approached Gavdos with 9 boats in less than 24 hours has reached 578. Together with the people already located in Agia, the number now reaches 1,139, a situation that has mobilized local authorities who are seeking immediate ways to transfer a sufficient number of refugees to closed facilities in the mainland.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, two major search and rescue operations were carried out in the sea area south of Gavdos, coordinated by the Unified Search and Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC). In the first case, a FRONTEX vessel spotted a boat with 71 foreign nationals on board, who were safely transported to the port of Chora Sfakion.
Earlier in the morning, a Coast Guard patrol boat proceeded to locate and rescue 38 foreign nationals aboard a vessel southwest of Gavdos. The rescued individuals were taken to the island’s port.
The gradual departure of migrants from Gavdos to Chania is expected within the day, while efforts are being made by the Ministry of Migration to have the first detainees leave on Monday in stages to closed facilities, in order to decongest the situation. In a video obtained by parakritika.gr from a reader, the scene at the pier on Sunday morning is such that no further comments are needed.
Everyone is expected to be transferred to the exhibition space in Agia, which will now host over 1,000 people, without health workers and Red Cross volunteers, who have departed fearing for their lives. At the same time, the Coast Guard remains on alert, as information indicates that other boats are located south of Gavdos and are expected in the coming hours, with good weather as an ally. The entire situation appears to be taken over by the Ministry of Migration and Asylum, undertaking the gradual departure of migrants from the Agia exhibition space and their transfer to mainland Greece.
Tomorrow, Monday – according to reliable information from ERT Chania – an emergency meeting is expected to take place in Athens with the relevant ministries on the issue. Meanwhile, due to weather conditions, the Gavdos-Paleochora line is not operating. It is worth noting that last night the climate was tense. There were incidents involving migrants who have been in the closed facility for many days and are in a state of constant anxiety and frustration.
With information from parakritika.gr
