File Photo: handout image provided by Greece's coast guard shows scores of people on a battered fishing boat that later capsized and sank off southern Greece. AP
In a statement on Monday, the embassy said it continues to monitor the aftermath of the sinking off the coast of Crete.
The move comes in line with commitments made to the victims’ families to complete all necessary procedures quickly.
Working with Greek authorities, the embassy said it had succeeded in shortening the usual timeframe for repatriation.
The process normally takes about 14 days, especially as the incident occurred during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The repatriation will begin sequentially on Tuesday, with families regularly informed of the arrival schedules, according to the statement.
The embassy extended its deepest condolences to the families and stressed the need for citizens to exercise caution and avoid irregular migration due to the serious risks involved.
The 14 Egyptians were among 34 migrants who died when a boat sank while attempting to reach Greece on 7 December, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty instructed Egypt’s embassy in Athens last week to coordinate closely with Greek authorities to assist survivors and speed up the repatriation of the victims’ bodies once legal procedures are completed.
The embassy has contacted the families of the deceased to arrange the transfer of the bodies to Egypt.
In a statement, the ministry also extended condolences to the victims’ families and renewed its warning against irregular migration, urging citizens to avoid smuggling networks and to use legal travel channels.
Egypt has sought to curb irregular migration since launching its national strategy in 2016, emphasizing that the country will not serve as a transit hub to Europe.
No migrant boats have departed from Egyptian shores since the strategy was implemented, despite the country hosting nearly 10 million foreigners, including refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from 133 countries.
The policy has been expanded in recent years through the 2024–2026 national action plan led by the National Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons.
It also includes programmes such as the 2019 Lifeboats Initiative, which allocated EGP 250 million to create job opportunities in high-risk villages.
Egypt’s efforts have received international support, including from the European Union, which pledged 200 million euros in March 2024 to strengthen border management, search-and-rescue operations, and anti-smuggling capacities.
Short link: