Migrants die under tow in Greece

Current unstable situation in the world forces millions of people to leave their homeland to find a place where their life won't  be threatened and they could find food and shelter. They use various ways to abandon a country where their rights are abused, compatriots are killed and cities are destroyed. One of them sea-born refugee traffic. On 22nd of January,2014, the boat carrying 26 Afgans and two Syrian refugees capsized when it was being towed by a Greek coastguard vessel. Unfortuantely, bodies of an 11-year-old child and 38-year-old woman were found, and 10 people are still missing. Incident took place near the island of Farmakonisi, Greece.

The accident caused a piblic outcry. Some non-governmental organizations, namely "Pro Asyl and Ecre" assume that Greek side intentionally tried to prevent migrants landing in Greece. Refugees seeks to enter EU trough Greek -Turkish land border. Therefore, the incident should be regarded as push-back of migrants due to the facts like ignoring begs and cries of survivers on a boat. Moreover, refugee boat was towed at high speed when it capsize.

To defend themselves, Greek side claims that they put out a fire on a stricken boat, rescued 16 people, and searched the area for survivers using helicopter. 

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)and NGOs demand inbiased investigation of circumstances that caused such casualties. They affirm that actions taken by the Greek side to force migrants to turn back to Turkish waters are illegal, inhumane, endanger people's lives and have to be ceased immediately. Furthermore, survivors should be provided by any assiastance and their need must be looked after.