Author Archives: Tommy Olsen

For three years, the Greek government has, in place of a refugee policy, deliberately broken international law, carrying out acts of violence, torture, and sometimes murder against men, women and children who have done nothing wrong. It’s time for this outrage to end. Whether the trash is the despicable policy and activity of the GreekContinue reading “It’s time to take out the trash”

We at Aegean Boat Report are saddened, weary, and sadly not at all surprised to once again have been targeted by the Greek government with yet another mischievous, baseless and transparent attempt to prevent us from carrying out our – unfortunately necessary – work. Anyone who has followed us or our experiences in recent yearsContinue reading “Government’s efforts to intimidate humanitarians unfounded, and must not be allowed to succeed”

On Friday December 16 a boat carrying 35 people crashed into rocks of the coast in the Fara area west of the entrance to the gulf of Sheraton Lesvos south, according to the information published by the Hellenic coast guard. During the rescue operation 34 people was recovered alive, including two people who was injuredContinue reading “Baby Boy Drowned on Lesvos, Mother Pushed Back by Greek Authorities”

On Thursday December 15, 26 people, 25 Palestinians and one Yemeni, was found on the Aegean island of Lipsi in northern Dodecanese. The group claimed to have been hiding on a remote beach on the island , to avoid being found by Greek authorities and illegally returned to Turkey. The group consisted of Palestinian familiesContinue reading “26 People Pushed Back From The Greek Island Of Lipsi”

In the early morning of December 6, a boat carrying 44 people arrived on the northeastern shore of Lesvos. Shortly after arriving the group fled to the woods in the surrounding area to hide, fearing that if they were found by Greek authorities they would be illegally deported back to Turkey. The group contacted localContinue reading “15 Children Left Drifting In Life Rafts By Greek Authorities”

In the morning of December 2, at 07.00, a boat carrying approximately 40 people arrived west of Tarti, Lesvos south. After arriving the group quickly moved away from the beach, afraid to be found by police and illegally returned to Turkey. The group walked for hours toward higher ground, believed they would be safer ifContinue reading “Pushbacks as Border Management”

In the morning of Thursday, November 10, a boat carrying 33 people landed west of Gavathas, Lesvos north west. The flimsy rubber boat had started out from Turkey in cover of darkness, 33 people packed into this small boat, people with hopes for a better future, away from war and persecution, to finally be ableContinue reading “Afghan Families Left Drifting in Life Rafts Outside Lesvos”

Friday night, November 4, a boat carrying approximately 25 people arrived close to Kalo Limani, Lesvos north west. After arriving people fled to the Woodson in several groups in the surrounding area to hide from Greek authorities, fearing that if they were found they would be illegally returned to Turkey. Saturday morning at 07.00 AegeanContinue reading “A Family With Several Small Children Left Drifting in a Life Raft Outside Lesvos”

On Monday 31 October, Aegean Boat Report published about a boat carrying 110 people that ended up in disaster travelling from Turkey to Italy. After hours drifting due to lack of fuel and engine failure, they were finally rescued by a vessel from the Greek coast guard. The Greek coast guard vessel, a Lambro HalmaticContinue reading “Another Magic Trick, This Time 104 People “Disappeard””

A boat carrying 43people, 16 of them small children, was traveling from Ayvalik, Turkey toward Tsonia, Lesvos north at first light this morning, when they were stopped by a vessel from the Greek coast guard and pushed back to Turkish waters. The boat was dangerously overloaded, and should not have been at sea at all,Continue reading “16 Children Pushed Back Outside Lesvos By Greek Coast Guard”