More than a hundred migrants were rescued from an overcrowded fishing vessel that capsized southwest of the Greek port of Pyrgos on Wednesday. At least 78 people have been confirmed dead, making it Greece’s deadliest migrant shipwreck since 2016. However that figure could rise, with estimates of the number on board ranging from 400 to 750.
The tragedy comes weeks ahead of the Greek elections, in which a right-wing party is expected to win, and just days after the EU struck a deal on a new asylum pact to better share the burden on legal and illegal entries into the bloc.
Last Sunday, Italy’s far-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, flanked by her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte and the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, met with Tunisian president Ka?s Sa?ed to seal a migrant pact along the lines of those with neighbouring Libya and Turkey.
Now, what’s the way forward to avoid tragedy for those desperate enough to risk their lives crossing? And why did the vessel that set sail from Tobruk in Libya refuse offers to dock in Greece, instead trying to chart a course to Italian waters?
In today’s debate, we ask about Athens’ draconian migrant policy, with not only concentration camps but video evidence of asylum seekers ditched at sea.
Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Josephine Joly and Imen Mellaz.