Watch The Med Alarm Phone Investigations – 5th of January 2024
Case name: 2024_01_05-EASTERN MED - 008
Situation: 21 people arrived on Lesvos
Status of WTM Investigation: Concluded
Place of Incident: Eastern Med

Summary of the Case:
In the late evening of the 5th of January, Alarm Phone was alerted by a relative to a group of 19 people who had landed on Lesvos. The relative told us that the group was in need of support, as it was really cold and they wanted reach out to authorities to apply for asylum in Greece. We got in contact with the group, who told us they are actually 21 people, including 3 children, and send us a newer position. At 22:17 CET we sent an email to the Hellenic Coast Guard, Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and other actors alerting to the group. At 23:56 CET, we called JRCC Piraeus to ask for information but the officer said they were not responsible and gave us another number. When we called that number, the person said they forwarded the case to local police station. Next morning we could not establish direct contact to the group anymore but received a newer position from the relative. At 09:11 CET we sent the updated position per email. A few hours later, we learned from the relative that the majority of the group arrived at the reception center but 5 people were still missing, about which the police was already informed. At 11:42 CET we learned from the relative that all of the people had now arrived at the camp.