Greece shipwrecks: Humanitarian crisis set to escalate as winter approaches

Responding to news of more shipwrecks off the coast of Greece in the last 24 hours, in which 22 people are said to have drowned, including many children, Steve Symonds, Amnesty UK’s refugee expert, said:

“This is yet more dreadful news from Greece, and these tragedies will continue as more and more men, women and children flee persecution and conflicts that show no sign of abating.

“Winter is fast approaching. Unless European leaders urgently get their act together – provide safe and legal routes and agree to share responsibility for refugees already in Europe – the humanitarian crisis at and within Europe’s borders will escalate. 

“David Cameron must finally start to show some leadership and commit the UK to playing its part in addressing these urgent needs.”