Athens: Fourteen Egyptians were among 34 migrants who perished after their boat sank en route to Greece on December 7, as reported by Egypt’s foreign ministry. The ministry stated that Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has directed Egypt’s embassy in Athens to work closely with Greek authorities to assist survivors and expedite the repatriation of the victims’ bodies following the completion of legal procedures.

According to State Information Service Egypt, the Egyptian embassy in Athens has reached out to the families of the deceased to facilitate the transfer of the bodies back to Egypt. The ministry has extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and reiterated its warning against irregular migration networks, urging citizens to use lawful channels for entering foreign countries to protect their lives.

Egypt has been proactive in curbing irregular migration since the introduction of its national strategy in 2016. Officials have consistently stressed that Egypt will not be a transit hub to
Europe. Since the strategy’s implementation, no migrant boats have departed from Egyptian shores, despite the country hosting nearly 10 million foreigners, including refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from 133 countries.

The strategy has evolved over the years, incorporating the 2024-2026 national action plan by the National Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons. This includes initiatives like the 2019 Lifeboats Initiative, which allocated EGP 250 million to create job opportunities in high-risk villages.

Moreover, the European Union has pledged its support for Egypt’s efforts, committing 200 million pounds in grants in March 2024 to enhance border management, search-and-rescue operations, and anti-smuggling measures.