BOTA

38 Syrian immigrants are found after a month stranded on an unnamed island between Greece and Turkey

38 Syrian immigrants are found after a month stranded on an unnamed island

A group of 38 migrants, including a pregnant woman, have been found stranded on a small, unnamed island along the Turkish-Greek border. 22 men, nine women and seven children say they have been on the Evros River island since mid-July. After being found on Monday, they were taken to mainland Greece.

Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi said the group was all in very good condition and the pregnant woman had been taken to hospital.

But one child died on the island, which is near the Greek town of Lavara, according to the group and human rights agencies. The Greek police have not yet confirmed this.

The Migration Minister who visited the Euro region on Tuesday also said the government would work with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent to retrieve the body to ensure a dignified burial.

Initially, there was uncertainty about the location of the group and whether Turkey or Greece should have intervened to help. Greek authorities said the people, who identify themselves as Syrians, were in Turkish territory.

38 Syrian immigrants are found after a month stranded on an unnamed island

They were eventually found about 4 km outside the Greek territory that was first reported a few days ago. This is why, according to the Greek police, the migrants were not found earlier.

Baida, one of the women in the group, said it was being treated like a football game between two sides: Turkey and Greece. "Nobody loves us. Nobody listens to us. Nobody wants to help," she added.

According to the UN, between January and June 2022, 232 Syrians arrived in Greece by sea.