Greek minister claims NGOs to blame for arrival of undocumented Somali migrants

·

Greece’s migration minister on Tuesday pointed the finger at unnamed nongovernmental organisations for facilitating the illegal crossing of dozens of undocumented Somali migrants from Turkey into Greece.

Speaking to foreign correspondents in Athens, Notis Mitarakis said that the ministry has “witness testimony and confirmed information” that NGOs were helping Somali asylum seekers travel to Turkey and from there helped arrange their crossing to Greece via migrant smuggling networks.

“NGOs pat for the cost of travel and the issuance of a Visa to Turkey, with flights to Istanbul. Then [the migrants] are transported to the Turkish coast, where migrant smugglers, again with NGO support, help them enter the European Union illegally,” Mitarakis said, without providing additional details.

“These crossing must be prevented by any legal means. We do not want our country to become a gateway to Europe,” he said.

Since November 1, 142 of the 214 migrant arrivals in Lesbos have been from Somalia, according to news24/7.gr.

The migration minister placed blame on the Turkish coast guard for the death of two women off the coast of Lesvos last week.

Mitarakis says the migrants are coming to Greece with “unsuitable boats and people, without permission and with complete ignorance of the rules of the sea”.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

From Metallica to Maritime: The many lives of Greek shipping tycoon Harry Vafias

Though Greek shipping tycoon, Harry Vafias, spends much time working, it certainly isn't a case of 'all work and no play.’

‘I want them to know their word matters’: Peter Georgiou stands against gender violence

Peter Georgiou, a real estate agent from Rushcutters Bay and father of four-year-old twins Leila and Lola, believes change begins at home.

Thessaloniki’s Byzantine walls to shine with new light project

Thessaloniki’s iconic Byzantine Walls are set to be illuminated under a major cultural initiative announced by the Greek Ministry of Culture.

Greek World Heritage Cities face rising climate threats

Iconic Greek cities—Athens, Thessaloniki, Corfu, Rhodes, and Patmos—face serious climate threats, according to a new UNESCO-backed report.

Are apps like Duolingo enough to learn Greek, or do we need a tutor?

For many people who want to learn conversational Greek, an app, can be a very useful addition to your program.

You May Also Like

Sydney teacher Monica Rouvellas shares how she bought three homes on a $70k wage

Despite earning "too little" to secure a loan, Sydney teacher Monica Rouvellas successfully acquired three homes valued at $1.2 million.

US and Cyprus to sign deal to fight financial crimes

The US and Cyprus have siigned a deal to formalise collaborations to fight money laundering, evasion of Russian sanctions and other crimes.

Canberra’s Greek community celebrate St Nicholas feast day with a packed paniyiri

Greek food was flowing freely at St Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Canberra on Sunday as people gathered to celebrate the patron saint.