File Photo: handout image provided by Greece's coast guard scores of people on a battered fishing boat that later capsized and sank off southern Greece. AP
The ministry said Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty had instructed Egypt’s embassy in Athens to liaise closely with Greek authorities to assist survivors and to speed up the repatriation of the victims’ bodies once legal procedures are completed.
The Egyptian embassy in Athens has also contacted the families of the deceased to arrange the transfer of the bodies back to Egypt, according to the statement.
The ministry offered condolences to the families of those killed in the accident, while renewing its appeal to citizens not to fall victim to irregular migration networks, to safeguard their lives, and to use lawful channels for entry into foreign countries.
Egypt has sought to curb irregular migration since launching its national strategy in 2016, with officials emphasizing that the country will not serve as a transit hub to Europe.
No migrant boats have departed from Egyptian shores since the strategy’s implementation, despite hosting nearly 10 million foreigners, including refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from 133 countries.
The approach has expanded over the years, including the 2024–2026 national action plan by the National Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons.
Additionally, it included other programs such as the 2019 Lifeboats Initiative, which allocated EGP 250 million to create jobs in high-risk villages.
The European Union has also supported Egypt’s efforts, pledging €200 million in grants in March 2024 to strengthen border management, search-and-rescue operations, and anti-smuggling capacities.
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