Many migrants attempt to cross the dangerous route from Turkey to the Greek islands or from Libya to Crete.
Nearly 400 migrants were rescued off the coast of the tiny Greek island of Gavdos, south of Crete, by the Greek coast guard.
In a large-scale operation conducted about 35 nautical miles south of Gavdos, about 365 people seeking asylum in the European Union, who were traveling on a fishing boat, were rescued by a coast guard ship with the support of a Danish-flagged cargo ship and a Frontex aircraft.
They were taken aboard the merchant ship to be transferred to the port of Paleochora, Crete, according to state television ERT, quoted by AFP.
Earlier in the day, about 30 migrants were spotted by a Frontex vessel 25 nautical miles south of Gavdos and transferred to Crete.
On December 25, 39 migrants traveling on an inflatable boat were rescued south of Crete and transported to Kaloy Limenes on the island.
Many migrants attempt to cross the dangerous route from Turkey to the Greek islands or from Libya to Crete. However, incidents are frequent.
In early December, 17 people were found dead after their boat sank off Crete, and another 15 were reported missing. Only two people survived.
The migrants, mostly Sudanese and Egyptian nationals, were found dead in their boat, which was filling with water and was partially broken after leaving Tobruk in Libya a few days earlier.
According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 16,770 people seeking asylum in the EU have arrived in Crete since the launchning of the year, far more than any other island in the Aegean Sea.
In July, Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ conservative government suspfinished the processing of asylum applications for three months, especially for people arriving in Crete from Libya.
The prime minister described the measure as “absolutely necessary” given the increasing flow of migrants.
Migration Minister Thanos Plevris, a former member of the now-defunct far-right party, stated Greece was “not a hotel” for asylum seekers.
“You are not welcome here,” he repeatedly informed migrants. | BGNES
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