Survivors of a boat disaster that likely killed hundreds of migrants near Greece have shared how traffickers in North Africa crammed them into a dilapidated fishing trawler as they described the appalling conditions — without food or water — above and below deck.
Others asserted that the Greek coastguard’s actions caused the tragic outcome when it occurred.
Legal authorities have been informed of a failed towing attempt by the overloaded trawler that resulted in the capsize of the ship in the early hours of June 14.
According to documentation reviewed by Reuters, six out of the nine survivor statements provided to Greek judicial officials looking into the causes of the tragedy detailed a disastrous coastguard towing attempt.
One of the Syrian survivors claimed that he and other migrants on board the Adriana, which had broken down while trying to reach Italy, yelled “Stop!” after a Greek coastguard vessel fastened a rope to the trawler’s bow and started to pull it while gaining speed.
The migrant boat tipped left and right before flipping over, he continued.
Three more witnesses claimed they were unaware of the circumstances leading to the boat’s capsize. The nine survivors’ names have not been made public, nor have their accounts been published by Reuters.
In contrast to the Greek coastguard’s and government’s public statements, which claim that no attempt was made to tow the boat and that it capsized when they were about 70 metres away, the statements of the six witnesses are in conflict with those claims.
The shipping ministry, which is in charge of the coastguard, said that it was unable to comment on matters that were being looked into by prosecutors in a private capacity. It is against the law for Greek prosecutors to comment on ongoing investigations.
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Pakistan is observing a day of mourning in honour of Pakistani nationals who lost their lives after a ship carrying migrants sank off the coast of Greece on 14th June.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the observance of a day of mourning following the incident.
The PM Office Media Wing, in a press statement issued, stated that the national flag would fly at half-mast on that day, and special prayers would be offered for the deceased.
Additionally, the Prime Minister’s Office issued another notification stating that a high-level four-member committee would be formed to conduct an inquiry into the tragic incident.
“On the unfortunate incident of 14th June 2023, where a boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast of Greece, resulting in the deaths of Pakistani/AJK nationals and other individuals, the Prime Minister, while expressing his grief and taking it seriously, has decided to establish an Inquiry Committee,” the notification read.
The committee will be chaired by Director National Police Bureau Ehsan Sadiq, with Additional Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Africa) Javed Ahmad Umrani, DIG Azad Jammu and Kashmir Police Region Poonch Sardar Zaheer Ahmad, and Joint Secretary Interior Division (FIA) Faisal Nisar Ch. as its members.
The inquiry committee has been given one week to submit its report.
The notification further stated that the committee’s responsibilities include determining the facts of the Greece boat tragedy, identifying loopholes and lapses in Pakistan’s legal and enforcement mechanisms that exposed precious human lives to human trafficking, analysing similar past incidents and actions taken, assessing the existing legal framework and enforcement measures, and preparing short- and long-term recommendations to combat human trafficking, including legislation, awareness campaigns, and improvement of national and international coordination.
The goal is to apprehend agents, facilitators, masterminds, and criminal networks involved in human trafficking and eradicate this menace.
