ATHENS, Greece — On Tuesday, Greek authorities announced the rescue of 23 migrants from a small boat in the vicinity of Lesbos, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. Tragically, the rescue teams also recovered two additional bodies following a recent incident where a vessel filled with migrants sank off the coast of Gavdos. This incident has now brought the total number of confirmed deaths from that accident to seven.


According to the Greek government, there has been a surge in migrant arrivals, reportedly increasing by as much as 35% since the autumn of 2023. While a considerable number of migrants travel the short distance from the Turkish mainland to the nearby Greek islands, an alarming trend has emerged with more individuals undertaking the dangerous 300-kilometer (approximately 200 miles) journey from Libya’s coast to the Greek islands of Crete and Gavdos, as noted by officials.


On Sunday, rescue operations successfully retrieved approximately 39 migrants from a distressing situation involving a sinking boat, while other operations managed to rescue over 150 individuals. However, according to the coast guard, many survivors indicated that dozens are still unaccounted for.


Migration Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos expressed concern that the pressure on eastern Mediterranean migration routes is expected to persist until at least 2025. He attributed this issue to ongoing geopolitical instability in the region, particularly pointing to three active conflicts, including the recent war in Syria, as well as the challenges posed by the climate crisis. “These factors are compelling many individuals to leave their homes in search of safety and survival,” Panagiotopoulos stated during a parliamentary discussion that concluded late Sunday.


He further elaborated, “We are witnessing a significant uptick in migration and refugee movements since late 2023.” The government anticipates that the number of migrants seeking to cross into Greece illegally could exceed 60,000 this year, with the largest contingent being Syrians, followed by Afghans, Egyptians, Eritreans, and Palestinians, as per government statistics.


In light of the recent changes in Syria after the fall of leader Bashar Assad, Greece has paused the processing of final asylum decisions for Syrian applicants. The underlying reasons for many asylum claims—specifically, persecution by the Assad regime—have been rendered uncertain due to the evolving political landscape. While the asylum service will continue to accept new applications, decisions will be withheld pending a reassessment of the situation in Syria, as stated by government representatives.