Esther Imonmion
Migratory flows south of Crete are once again on the rise, with multiple rescue operations conducted near the island of Gavdos in recent days.
On Tuesday morning, a Greek Coast Guard patrol boat, assisted by a Frontex drone, rescued 36 migrants stranded at sea. They were safely transported to the port of Chora Sfakia.
A day earlier, on Monday, more than 100 migrants were rescued in two separate incidents in the same area. All those rescued are expected to be transferred to Agia Chania, from where more than 350 migrants had recently departed for northern Greece.
The uptick in crossings comes as the Greek government adopts a tougher stance on migration. During a visit to Austria on Monday, Greece’s Minister of Immigration and Asylum, Thanos Plevris, underscored the government’s uncompromising position.
“Anyone staying illegally in Greece is punishable with a prison sentence of two to five years. There is only one way to avoid the sentence: returning to the country of origin,” Plevris said. “The message is clear: jail or return.”
Talks with Austria’s Interior Minister also focused on closer bilateral cooperation in managing migration and increasing returns to third countries.