8 Kurds among missing after migrant boat sinks off Greek coast

24-07-2021
Rudaw
A+ A-
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Eight Kurds are still missing two days after a boat carrying refugees sank off Greek waters, according to the head of a refugee organization. 

A boat carrying about 45 migrants sank of the coast of Crete on Thursday. Thirty-seven people were rescued and another eight to 12 people are missing, Greek port police said, AFP reported.

Seventeen of the rescued are from the Kurdistan Region – 16 from Sulaimani and one from Duhok, according to information from the Summit Foundation for Refugee and Displaced Affairs (Lutka).

Many of the missing are also Kurds from the Kurdistan Region and Iran. 

“According to the latest data received by Lutka's head office, there are a total of 10 registered as missing. Seven of them are from the Kurdistan Region and one of them is a Kurd from Rojhelat [Kurdish area of Iran],” Ari Jalal, head of Lutka, told Rudaw

Afghans and Egyptians were also on the boat and two Egyptians are reported missing. 

Turkish naval vessels joined in the search, though operations were hampered by strong winds, according to Greek port police. 

Scores of refugees and migrants have drowned in the sea trying to make the journey from Turkey to Europe.

Comments

Rudaw moderates all comments submitted on our website. We welcome comments which are relevant to the article and encourage further discussion about the issues that matter to you. We also welcome constructive criticism about Rudaw.

To be approved for publication, however, your comments must meet our community guidelines.

We will not tolerate the following: profanity, threats, personal attacks, vulgarity, abuse (such as sexism, racism, homophobia or xenophobia), or commercial or personal promotion.

Comments that do not meet our guidelines will be rejected. Comments are not edited – they are either approved or rejected.

Post a comment

Required
Required
 

The Latest

Andreas Schieder, member of the european parliament, speaking to Rudaw on November 15, 2024. Photo: Rudaw

EU lawmakers express solidarity with Kurds

A diverse group of lawmakers have formed the Kurdish Friendship Group at the European Parliament to show solidarity with Kurds and seek political solutions to Kurdish issues.