The International Maritime Organization's Secretary-General, Kitack Lim, has expressed his profound sadness about the large loss of life when a heavily overcrowded boat carrying hundreds of people capsized on 14 June off the coast of Greece. At least 78 people are known to have died and it is thought that several hundred are missing.
In a statement, Mr Lim offered his deepest condolences to all impacted by the tragedy:
"I am profoundly saddened by the reports of the tragic loss of life off the coast of Greece, after a boat carrying hundreds of people reportedly capsized and sank. It is a sad fact that thousands of people undertake dangerous sea crossings in unsafe vessels, putting their lives in the hands of unscrupulous operators - who have little regard for mandatory regulations such as the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) or the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR).
Mr Lim added:
"Every life lost at sea is one too many. IMO will continue to work with others in the United Nations system, like the Inter-Agency Group on the protection of refugees and migrants moving by sea, to address the complexities of this humanitarian issue and the unsafe practices associated with the transport of migrants by sea."
Read the Secretary-General's full statement here.
