Statement on Shipwrecks in Lesvos and Samos on 19 October

The first deadly incident occurred off Lesvos, where 4 men, 1 woman and 1 infant died while attempting to reach the Greek shores, while 8 survivors were rescued with injuries. Hours later, 5 men and 1 woman died after a speedboat carrying migrants capsized north of Samos, while 14 others were rescued. 

These shipwrecks are not isolated maritime accidents. For more than a decade, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) have been supporting people arriving in Lesvos and Samos, including shipwreck survivors, witnessing the devastating consequences of border management policies that create a recurring pattern of violence at sea. Among patients who attend MSF services, several survivors report that they have been victims of pushbacks, high-speed pursuits, aggressive maneuvers and dangerous interceptions,  leading to capsising and drownings - and that they have attempted the sea crossing several times before reaching the Greek islands.  

“12 people died within hours in the Aegean Sea. This tragedy is not an isolated accident; it is the foreseeable result of policies that prioritise deterrence over safety.” underlines Fabrizio Andriolo, MSF Country Coordinator in Greece. 

The trauma of these experiences is profound. People arrive in shock, extremely distressed from the journey and the loss of family members and deeply affected by the constant threat to their lives. People flee war, persecution, violence, and conflicts only to face the physical and psychological consequences of the restrictive EU migration policies designed to keep people away.