Halt action !
28.7.2022
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we tried to obtain more information and plan next steps.
Despite the interim measures issued by the European Court of Human Rights last week and calls for the rescue of the 50 refugees stranded on one of the Evros islets, the group were pushed back to Turkey yesterday (26 July 2022). Some of the refugees, who were stranded in dangerous and dire conditions on one of the Evros islets for 12 days, are understood to be in hospital and others are being detained by the Turkish authorities.
We have to decided to halt this Urgent Action. We will keep monitoring the situation and keep you updated when it’s safe to do so and further action is required.
Thank you again for your understanding.
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Concerning News - 27.7.2022
We would like to update you in relation to this Urgent Action, for the 50 refugees stranded on river Evros. Today we received the concerning news that the group is back on Turkey.
We advice that you do not proceed with writing appeals.
Rescue 50 stranded refugees
Since 14 July, 50 people seeking safety, including 12 children, three pregnant women and a 70-year-old woman with diabetes, have been stranded in dangerous and dire conditions on one of the Evros islets. The individuals, who are Syrian and Palestinian refugees, have no food or safe drinking water and report that two of the children are sick and the woman with diabetes is in need of urgent medical care. Despite interim measures issued by the European Court of Human Rights last week, the group has not yet been rescued. The Greek authorities must urgently rescue them and provide support, health care, access to asylum procedures in Greece and protection from non-refoulement.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
According to information received from the Greek Council for Refugees and HumanRights360 who represented the 50 refugees before the uropean Court of Human Rights, the Orestiada Police Directorate informed them that they could not trace the group. The organization has been informed that the authorities have been provided with the group’s coordinates.
The people stranded also reported to the two organizations that yesterday Arab-speaking individuals appeared and threatened them and told them to return to Turkey. Additionally, in the past few days, the group told the two organizations that the 70-year-old woman with diabetes requires urgent medical assistance, one of the children has a fever and suffered from nose bleeds, and a second child fainted from the heat and hunger.
Currently, violent pushbacks remain rampant at Greece’s borders and go unpunished while the criminalization of aid groups that try to help victims of pushbacks continues. In June 2021, through the testimonies of 16 victims, Amnesty International reported 21 incidents of group pushbacks to Turkey in 2020, conducted by individuals appearing to belong to law enforcement and individuals in civilian or unmarked clothing. The incidents were estimated to have affected around 1,000 people. Many victims experienced arbitrary detention and ill-treatment, in some cases amounting to torture. None of those interviewed had the opportunity to seek asylum or to challenge their return. The research, consistent with evidence from other reputable actors, showed that pushbacks were Greece’s de facto policy of border management.
