Latest migrant tragedy leaves 27 dead off Turkish coast
By Robert Hackwill



PARIS: -- Turkish locals taking to the Aegean beaches on Tuesday were shocked to find another grim harvest from the refugee crisis; at least 27 bodies from a rubber dinghy that had deflated on the rocks.

Bodies were discovered on at least two beaches opposite the Greek island of Lesbos, towards which the unfortunate migrants had been heading.

They may be the first migrant fatalities at sea this year. It is unlikely they will be the last if the Syrian tragedy continues; in 2015 nearly 4000 people died trying to reach Europe.

The dead included women, children, and babies, more of whom appear now to be making the journey, an indication of the worsening crisis back home.

The strongest made it safely to shore from the rocks, but all the survivors needed hospital treatment for exposure or hypothermia.

“We came an hour ago. We heard a boat sank and hit the rocks. I surmise these people died when they were trying to swim to the shore. We came here to help as citizens,” said one man.

2015 saw a five-fold increase in the numbers trying to cross the seas to Europe. Unless peace comes to the region, these numbers could rise again this year.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-01-06

The UN needs to stop these boats at the source. Round them all up and put them in Camps, which are away the the fighting and terrorists; until they can bring peace to Syria. Even if it take 2-3 more years. Feed them, protect them, school the kids in their own country.

Cheaper and safer then letting them be boat people.

The UN needs to stop these boats at the source. Round them all up and put them in Camps, which are away the the fighting and terrorists; until they can bring peace to Syria. Even if it take 2-3 more years. Feed them, protect them, school the kids in their own country.

Cheaper and safer then letting them be boat people.

No - Turkey needs to stop these boats and the human trafficking business some of its citizens are involved in.

Instead, it uses this abysmal trade as a bartering chip with Europe; whilst also pursuing its own Islamic Empire re-establishment.

The UN, EU and NATO allies should pressure Turkey to actually follow law rather than allow this double handed dealing. Or impose sanctions and patrol the Greek borders agressively.

Unless peace comes to the region, these numbers could rise again this year.

BS alert.

It should read till the Greeks return all the illegal economic migrants to Turkey these numbers WILL rise again this year. How could a genuine refugee, having fled to save his life, afford to pay the scum that provide the boats? I guess once again no life jackets were provided.

Off-topic posts removed along with replies.

Maybe the Western crusades of the past 20 (100?) years shouldn't have happened in the first place.

The UN needs to stop these boats at the source. <snip>

Who is making these inflatable rubber boats? Maybe a visit to the factory to find out who is buying them could prove useful?

Nah, just wait for them to arrive on Lesbos. Nothing else to do.