Al Jazeera — In the latest humanitarian disaster to strike refugees trying to get to Europe, at least 18 people are reported to have drowned off the Turkish coast while trying to reach Greece.
The coastguard launched a search-and-rescue mission for other people believed to be missing from the accident.
Sunday’s incident came as European Union leaders prepared to meet to discuss the mounting refugee crisis on the Greek-Macedonia border, where about 13,000 people are living in precarious conditions as they wait for authorities to let them into FYROM so they can move towards Western Europe.
“It’s a wake-up call for the EU leaders, because this is a humanitarian crisis,” the UNHCR’s Babar Baloch said.
He said the situation at the border could not persist for long.
The situation is rapidly deteriorating, with more people arriving daily, observers said.
Al Jazeera’s Hoda Abdel-Hamid, reporting from the Idomeni refugee centre on the Greek side of the border, said the bottleneck occurred suddenly and that Greek authorities were trying to open a reception centre to address the growing needs.
Baloch said about 55 per cent of the people at the Idomeni camp – which was designed for 2,000 people – are women and children.
People have taken to camping in the open in nearby fields. Many of the children are reportedly suffering from respiratory diseases.
EU leaders will look to persuade Ahmet Davutoglu, Turkey’s prime minister, to slow the flow of people and take back thousands who do not qualify for asylum.
They will also be looking at how to seal the Balkans route and boost aid to Greece in an attempt to restore unity among the 28 member nations
Apostolos Tzitzikostas, governor of Greece’s Central Macedonia province, called on the government on Saturday to declare a state of emergency for the area surrounding the Idomeni border crossing.
“It’s a huge humanitarian crisis. I have asked the government to declare the area in a state of emergency,” Tzitzikostas said during a visit to Idomeni to distribute aid to the Red Cross and other non-governmental organisations.
“This cannot continue for much longer.”
Reporting from Idomeni on Saturday, Al Jazeera’s Abdel-Hamid said: “Once [the emergency] is in place – and that will not be before Monday – it would mean there is a release of emergency funds, first 200,000 euros, to help out in this camp, provide more tents, food, blankets and facilities. There is no running water here.”
