ATHENS, Greece (AP) – Greek authorities said Tuesday that 23 migrants were rescued from a dinghy near the eastern Aegean island of Lesbos. Rescue teams have recovered two more bodies after a boat carrying migrants sank off the coast of Gavdos over the weekend, bringing the death toll to seven.
The Greek government has announced that migrant arrivals have increased by up to 35% since autumn 2023. Most travel short distances between mainland Turkey and nearby Greek islands, but many more are now making the perilous 300 kilometers (200 miles) journey from Libya. Officials said the area stretches from the coast to Crete and Gavdos.
On Sunday, about 39 migrants were rescued from the sinking ship, and three other rescue operations rescued more than 150 people. Dozens of people remain missing, according to survivors' accounts, the Coast Guard said.
Immigration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos said pressure on migration routes in the eastern Mediterranean is likely to continue until 2025.
“With three wars raging, most recently in Syria, broader geopolitical instability coupled with the climate crisis, many people are fighting just to survive,” Panagiotopoulos said during the budget debate in parliament. They are being forced to abandon their homes.” It ended late Sunday.
“All these factors are leading to a significant increase in migration and refugee inflows from late 2023 onwards,” he said.
The number of migrants traveling to Greece illegally is expected to exceed 60,000 this year, with Syrians making the most, followed by Afghans, Egyptians, Eritreans and Palestinians, according to government data.
Following the ouster of Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad this month, Greece issued a final ruling against Syrian applicants, arguing that persecution by the Assad regime, the main basis for their applications, may no longer apply. The issuance of asylum decisions has been suspended. Officials say asylum services are still accepting applications, but decisions are being put on hold until the situation in Syria is reassessed.
