Following the death of 16 migrants, mostly from Somalia, who drowned when attempting to cross the Evros River at the Turkish-Greek border, the United Nations on Thursday called on countries to do more to protect migrants attempting to reach their destination by sea or river.
According to the U.N.’s refugee agency, this is the second time in a month that migrants have drowned while attempting to cross the Evros river.
The Evros River has become an increasingly popular transit point for people attempting to enter the European Union.
The incident “once again underlines the vulnerability of people who are forced to flee and are trying to reach safety,” said Giorgos Tsarbopoulos, head of the U.N. agency in Greece, in a news release.
According to Tsarbopoulos there is “every reason to believe that the majority had a legitimate need to seek international protection in the EU.”
According to the U.N.’s refugee agency, this is the second time in a month that migrants have drowned while attempting to cross the Evros river.
The Evros River has become an increasingly popular transit point for people attempting to enter the European Union.
The incident “once again underlines the vulnerability of people who are forced to flee and are trying to reach safety,” said Giorgos Tsarbopoulos, head of the U.N. agency in Greece, in a news release.
According to Tsarbopoulos there is “every reason to believe that the majority had a legitimate need to seek international protection in the EU.”
