Death of a Migrant and Rescue of 18 People Off a Greek Island

Greek coast guard rescued 18 migrants and recovered the body of a woman after their boat sank off a Greek island in the Aegean Sea. A coast guard official stated that their boats and a military helicopter carried out the rescue operation off Agathonisi island after the migrants sent a distress signal earlier that day. During the migration crisis in Europe in 2015, European governments faced difficulties in dealing with the influx of over a million people, mostly from Syria, who crossed from Turkey to Greece, leading to significant pressure on security forces and social services. Migrant flows decreased significantly before rising again this year. According to data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, approximately 40,000 refugees and migrants have arrived in Greece so far this year, most of whom crossed from Turkey by sea.