At least 22 migrants have died aboard a rubber dinghy off the coast of Greece while attempting to reach Europe from North Africa. Eighteen of the deceased have been identified as Bangladeshi nationals.
The news was reported by the news agency AFP on Friday (March 27), citing the Hellenic Coast Guard.
According to the Greek Coast Guard, a vessel from Frontex—the European Union's border and coast guard agency—rescued 26 individuals near Crete, Greece's largest island.
The survivors include 21 Bangladeshis, four Sudanese nationals, and one individual from Chad. A woman and a child were among those rescued.
Details of the Tragedy
The survivors informed authorities that 22 people died during the perilous journey. Under orders from traffickers, the bodies were reportedly cast into the Mediterranean Sea. Of those who perished, 18 were from Bangladesh.
The identities of three victims have been confirmed, all hailing from the Derai Upazila of Sunamganj district:
- Mujibur Rahman (45) of Ranarchor
- Md. Nuruzzaman Sardar Moyna (30) of Tarapasha
- Md. Sahan (25) of Tarapasha
Six Days Without Food or Water
Coast Guard officials stated that the boat departed from the port of Tobruk in eastern Libya on March 21, bound for Greece.
The vessel drifted off course after spending six days at sea without food or drinking water. The combination of adverse weather, starvation, and dehydration led to the deaths of the 22 passengers.
Greek authorities have arrested two suspected traffickers from South Sudan, aged 19 and 22. They are currently under investigation for illegal entry and negligent homicide.
The Guardian reported that the boat was located approximately 53 nautical miles south of the town of Ierapetra in Crete.
Rising Death Toll in the Mediterranean
Statistics show that the number of deaths among those attempting to reach Europe has more than doubled in the first two months of this year.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), 559 people died in the Mediterranean during January and February, compared to 287 during the same period last year.
While the European Union has recently tightened migration policies and approved a proposal for "return hubs" to curb the influx of migrants, human rights organizations have condemned these measures as inhumane.
