- Title: GREECE-MIGRANTS/SHELTER Greece tows migrant-packed ship to safety off Crete
- Date: 28th November 2014
- Summary: CRETE, GREECE (NOVEMBER 28 2014) (REUTERS) HUNDREDS OF MIGRANTS STANDING, SITTING OR SLEEPING INSIDE GYMNASIUM MIGRANTS QUEUING FOR FOOD RED CROSS WORKERS HANDING OUT FOOD MAN EATING, DRINKING GYMNASIUM FULL OF MIGRANTS VARIOUS OF RED CROSS WORKERS ASSISTING MIGRANTS (SOUNDBITE) (Greek) UNNAMED RED CROSS WORKER SAYING: "We are doing whatever is humanly possible to help the
- Embargoed: 13th December 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Greece
- Country: Greece
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVAE35VKF8G00CBB54I9TCN2M9X2
- Story Text: Greek health officials scrambled on Friday (November 28), to shelter and feed several hundred migrants rescued from the sea off the coast of Crete, many of them children.
The migrants, mostly from war-torn Syria, were accommodated in the vast gymnasium in the town of Lerapetra, where food queues were set up and scores of supplies from blankets to soap, to baby diapers were being shuttled in throughout the day.
Police, doctors and nurses as well as Red Cross workers assisted in the process.
"We are doing whatever is humanly possible to help them so they can have food, shampoo for a bath, medicines for those that need medical care. Shortly, as I understand, vaccinations will begin by doctors who are coming from the hospital with nursing staff to assist them," a Red Cross worker said.
Coast guard officials said the total number of the migrants was 595, revised down from their initial number of 750.
Of the total, 396 were men, 99 women, and 100 children, including infants.
Health officials said they were attempting to make the migrants' accommodation as comfortable as possible, and would continue to shelter them in the gymnasium until authorities found another solution, as the gymnasium was only a temporary solution.
"The stadium is in good condition, health regulations are being observed completely, everything has been well organised, the bathroom and other spaces have been well chlorinated. So far everything is going well," said George Mataliotakis, a representative from the Greek Ministry of Health.
"We will do what we can, and we will take care of them as long as is needed. If we need more reinforcements, then they will be brought in immediately, but we have not yet asked for reinforcements. I don't think we will need them. We will do the best that we can do," he added.
Coast guard officials said seven people - members of the crew of the cargo ship carrying the migrants - were arrested and were taken to a prosecutor on Friday, charged with illegal smuggling and endangering the lives of others.
Five of the crew are of Syrian descent and the other two were from Afghanistan.
The cargo ship Baris was stranded off the coast of Crete on Tuesday (November 25) in rough waters and issued a distress call.
Greek vessels towed the ship towards Crete, but did not arrive until Thursday (November 26) because of the difficult weather conditions. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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