Greece Rescues Hundreds of Migrants Amidst Rising Crossings

In recent days, Greek authorities have rescued hundreds of migrants from the waters surrounding two southern islands. Reports indicate that 840 migrants were rescued within a 24-hour period near Crete and Gavdos. The Unified Search and Rescue Coordination Centre (ESRC), with the support of the Greek coast guard, assisted over 753 migrants in several large-scale operations during the weekend. The largest operation involved over 430 migrants found 25 nautical miles off Gavdos, reportedly aboard an overcrowded fishing vessel.

Greece serves as a common route for migrants seeking entry into Europe, prompting the country to increase efforts to curb illegal crossings. Athens recently announced plans to deploy warships to international waters in the region due to a rise in crossings from Libya to Crete, a more dangerous route compared to the more frequently used passage between Turkey and nearby Greek islands. Gavdos, Greece’s southernmost island, is located just south of Crete, the largest and most populated Greek island, which is also a popular tourist destination. Other rescue operations included 67 people pulled from a boat 30 nautical miles off Gavdos and 73 rescued 32 nautical miles south of the Crete village of Kaloi Limenes.

The Greek coastguard reported five separate rescue incidents since Friday. The EU’s Frontex border agency also rescued 96 migrants from two boats near Crete. All rescued migrants were taken to Crete. Some migrant boats appear to have landed directly on shore over the weekend.

A video shared by a Greek outlet shows a large group of migrants disembarking from a crowded boat onto a tourist beach in southern Crete. This follows the arrival of over 400 migrants on Gavdos weeks prior. Gavdos's location between Crete and Libya makes it a strategic landing point for people smugglers. Greece’s foreign minister traveled to Benghazi on Sunday for migration talks with Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, the military commander in eastern Libya. At a conference in Athens last week, the EU’s commissioner for migration stated that Europe will adopt a "firm" approach with Libyan authorities due to the increase in illegal migration across the Mediterranean. Commissioner Magnus Brunner is scheduled to visit Libya this week with officials from Greece, Italy, and Malta, seeking stricter measures from Libyan authorities to prevent migrant boats from departing for Europe.