Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigation – 24th of March 2015

Case name: 2015_03_24-AEG5
Situation: Four Syrians stuck in the region of Evros, in need of assistance
Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded
Place of Incident: Evros region/Greece

Summary of the Case: On the 24th of March 2015, in the afternoon, the shift team of the Alarm Phone was alerted by Nawal Soufi und Agata Ronsivalle to a situation of distress in the Greek region of Evros. Following the obtained information, 4 Syrians had already crossed the Evros river but were lost and in need of support. With the provided GPS coordinates their location could be verified. The Syrians had notified the Greek and Turkish coastguards already but were told that they had contacted authorities not responsible for their situation. The shift team contacted the UNHCR in Greece, the police in Orestiada/Greece, the Greek police headquarter as well as the media contact of the Greek Ministry of Public Order and Citizen Protection, overseeing the police and coastguard. Via the activist network the shift team reached out to the Syrians, suggesting that they should stay in their current place or provide new coordinates in order to locate their position. In the early evening the shift team received an unconfirmed message that the Syrians had been found and were transferred in a minibus. On the 26th of March, the shift team contacted the UNHCR once again to ask for further clarification. The contact person there confirmed that the Syrians had been found and arrested in the Evros region. While they were still in custody, they would be released on that day. The UNHCR had visited them in custody and they all were in good health condition.