47 people distressed outside Samos

Forty seven migrants have been reportedly distressed outside Samos.

Aegean Boat Report disclosed this in a statement. It said: “A group of 47 people in distress outside Samos in two life rafts, Greek and Turkish coast guard on the scene but only watching from a distance.

“The group was on their way towards Samos when the Greek coast guard vessel stopped them close to land on Samos. The group was taken onboard a Lambro 57 coastal patrol vessel belonging to the Greek coast guard on Samos.”

Instead of taking them to land on Samos, Aegean Boat Report said, they took them back out to sea, and dropped them in two life rafts in the border area between Turkey and Greece, with the intention that they would drift into Turkish waters.

“There are men, women and children onboard, none of them has been provided with life jackets by the Greek coast guard before they threw them into the rafts and abandoned them at sea,” it said.

“Someone most likely didn’t pay attention to the weather, because the wind direction in the area is calm, but slightly south west, so instead of drifting into Turkish waters, the two rafts is almost stationary inside Greek territory waters, moving slowly further into Greek waters.

“As a result, Turkish and Greek coast guard are observing the situation from a distance, Turkish coast guard refuses to go into Greek waters to rescue them, and Greek coast guard refuses to go and rescue people they themselves have placed in these life rafts. This situation has now been ongoing for six hours, seems to be no solution in sight.”

Aegean Boat Report further said: “We have been in contact with both agencies, Turkish say that the life rafts are in Greek waters and they can only intervene if there is an emergency with imminent risk of people’s lives, and Greece don’t even want to admit that they know of the situation, even do we have videos and pictures of them being present.

“We will monitor the situation as long as we remain in contact with the group, and urge Greek authorities to rescue the people they have placed in these life rafts, and taken them to a port of safety, provide them with food, water and medical attention.

“One can only wonder where Frontex are while these atrocities takes place, probably watching as well, these cases straggly enough never finds its way into their reports, we can only wonder why.”