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At least 1,200 migrants have been detained on the Greek islands of Crete and the neighboring islet of Gavdos over the past three days, following an influx of arrivals from Libya.
Numerous boats were intercepted off Crete’s southern coast between Saturday and Monday, prompting regional authorities to request additional government aid.
Migrants usually travel the 350 kilometers to Crete in unseaworthy boats, often hastily constructed to survive a single voyage, or in abandoned and modified boats in scrap yards.
Gavdos, a tiny island in southern Crete, has been swamped by arrivals. Boats and dinghies remain stranded on its pebble beaches, many of which are only accessible on foot.
For years, the European Union has been funding, training and equipping the Libyan coastguard to prevent smugglers from transporting migrants and refugees to Europe in makeshift boats.
According to reports, the coast guard has been accused of mistreating asylum seekers, leading many NGOs to denounce this policy.
Under international maritime law, people rescued at sea must be disembarked at a safe port. However, the United Nations does not consider Libya to be a safe port.
