Tragic Mediterranean Crossing and the Call for Accountability and Protection
More than two thousand people have died or disappeared this year as they attempted the perilous journey across the Mediterranean. This year is on a grim trajectory to become the deadliest period on record since 2016. A catastrophe on 14 June off the coast of Greece involved a vessel carrying around 750 migrants capsizing. Rescue efforts saved 104 people, and 82 bodies were recovered, with hundreds more presumed missing or dead.
Alkistis Agrafioti Chatzigianni is a lawyer and advocate for the Greek Council for Refugees, a partner of Save the Children and Oxfam. The organization offers free legal aid along with psychosocial and social support to asylum seekers in Greece.
Seven children, aged 15 to 17, survived the tragedy. They were traveling without parents or close relatives, and their journeys began in Egypt and Syria.
This is their story.
The children appeared worn and exhausted, with signs of a trauma that many fear will mark their childhood forever. Some chose to remain silent about the night’s events, while others spoke of the fear and fatigue that followed such a harrowing experience.
They described starting the journey either alone, with friends, or with younger relatives. A few survived by clinging to a fragment of wood, remaining in the water for hours as the ship sank around them.
The fear in their eyes lingered as they recounted the event. They spoke with caution, choosing their words to avoid causing further distress during the interview.
Their concerns extended to the future. They worried about what would happen if they were returned to their home countries and yearned to leave Greece as quickly as possible to join relatives in other parts of Europe.
Anger and a sense of injustice were evident as they recalled the loss of hundreds of lives. They asked how women and children could be left on a sinking vessel without help, expressing a deep bitterness toward the tragedy and its perceived neglect.
During the interview, these young survivors came across as incredibly resilient. They were tired, frightened, and deeply distressed, yet they carried a determination to persevere. They spoke of dreams, accountability, and a sense that they had more strength than many adults who enjoy safer lives in Europe. Their courage was evident, and observers could not help but admire their resilience.
The survivors wondered whether the coast guard bore responsibility for what happened. The response indicated that an investigation into the shipwreck conditions and coast guard actions was underway. The youths, however, were not reassured. They expressed disappointment and a strong sense of injustice, believing that a transparent inquiry and accountability would follow, though time had passed without clear outcomes.
The interviewer felt a heaviness in the room, pondering how these young people would move forward after such trauma. A sense of suffocation lingered as the discussion turned to the broader implications. It is essential that European citizens demand a transparent investigation into the wreck and the responsibility for both the sinking and any related delays or negligence in salvage. There is a call for safe and legal avenues for children fleeing violence, persecution, or poverty to prevent future tragedies.
The responsibility also rests with the European Commission and member states. There is an urgent need to relocate these children, reunite them with their families, and ensure a safe and suitable environment. International protection in Europe is a minimum standard for these young survivors.
The story shared here aims to illuminate the experiences of the survivors and the urgent need for action.
Alkistis Agrafioti Chatzigianni, a lawyer and advocacy officer at the Greek Council for Refugees, represents a partner organization of Save the Children.