The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Friday (June 16) called to investigate people smugglers and human traffickers after at least 78 migrants were killed in a shipwreck off the coast of Greece.
Reports suggested between 400 and 750 people were aboard a fishing boat that capsized and sank early on Wednesday (June 14) morning in deep waters about 50 miles (80 km) from the southern Greek town of Pylos.
“The High Commissionner reiterated his calls to states to open up more regular migration channels, enhance responsibility sharing, ensure arrangements for the safe and timely disembarkation of all people rescued at sea and the establishment of independent monitoring and oversight of migration-related policies and practices,” said Jeremy Laurence, UN human rights spokesman.
Nine people have been arrested over shipwreck off Greece this week, a Greek shipping ministry official said.
“What happened on Wednesday underscores the need to investigate people smugglers and human traffickers and ensure they are brought to justice,” he said.
Greece is one of the main routes into the European Union for refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
The United Nations has recorded more than 20,000 deaths and disappearances in the central Mediterranean since 2014, making it the most dangerous migrant crossing in the world.
