ATHENS, Greece (AP) – For the first time in 11 days, no new fatalities involving migrants were reported in the Aegean Sea, with good weather conditions on Saturday helping refugees safely make the short but often perilous journey from Turkey’s coast to the eastern Greek islands.
Even with favorable seas, Greece’s coast guard and European Union border agency Frontex rescued a total of 383 migrants in six separate rescue operations, authorities said. One of the boats was “in a difficult situation” while two others were “rudderless.”
“There have been (no fatalities) so far today, thank God,” a Greek coast guard spokeswoman said on customary condition of anonymity.
As people flee conflict in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, European countries are struggling to cope with the heavy flow and hostility from anti-migrant groups. Many European Union members have been reluctant to take in significant numbers of migrants.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel underlined in her weekly video message the need for “a fairer distribution (of refugees) in Europe.”