The Greek Coast Guard has identified a change in migration routes from Turkey to the EU. Traffickers are increasingly using the direct route from the Turkish coast to Italy. The reason for this is the tough stance of the Greek government.
As the Greek newspaper “Kathimerini” wrote on Monday, citing a recent newspaper from the authorities, the much longer route directly to Italy was only used in the winter months when the Aegean Sea was bad.
Since the beginning of the year, 4000 refugees have reached Italy directly
But now the numbers are rising: Since the beginning of the year, nearly 4,000 people have come directly from Turkey to Italy, compared to just over 800 in the same period last year. The Greek authorities are therefore in contact with the Italian Coast Guard.
NGOs criticize Athens
The reason smugglers are increasingly avoiding Greek waters is the tough attitude of the border guards, who increasingly prevent boats from crossing to the Greek islands. Aid groups accuse Athens of illegal pushbacks, which the government denies.
Just last week, the Greek coast guard prevented about 300 migrants from entering Greek waters in five large sailboats. Officials suspect the boats were headed for Italy. Experts assume that smugglers charge up to 10,000 euros per person for such a crossing.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
