Greece called on Europe to share burden of illegal migration after eight illegal immigrants from Afghanistan including three children and five women is the final tragic toll of the accident that occurred early on Tuesday morning near the Greek island of Lesvos.
They drowned as the wooden boat that was carrying them from Turkey crashed on rocks near Cape Korakas. Greek Coast Guard vessels rescued the other nine passengers, among them the Turkish smuggler who was arrested.
"Each day Greek authorities have to look after the safety of 300 to 400 people who try to enter Greece in search of a better future," Minister of Citizens' Protection Mihalis Chrissohoidis said in a statement.
"Since illegal immigration has become a major national and European issue of safety and respect on human rights, in the upcoming meeting of leaders of EU member countries in Brussels on Thursday and Friday we intend to raise the problem and ask our European counterparts to share the burden and Turkey to apply the agreement of taking illegal immigrants back," the statement said. "Europe must understand that there is a continuing humanitarian crisis on its borders for which she is partly responsible."
Thousands of illegal immigrants cross into Greece and Europe through the Aegean coming from Turkey and the issue is one of the major thorns in the two neighboring countries relations.
In a similar incident just a few hours later, 45 illegal immigrants were found by conscripts taking part in a military exercise near Anafi island also in the Aegean sea.
They were left on an islet apparently by smugglers and they were safely transferred by Greek Coast Guard speedboats to the nearby island of Santorini.