Athens: Fourteen Egyptians were among the 34 migrants who tragically lost their lives when a boat sank en route to Greece on December 7, as confirmed by Egypt's foreign ministry.

According to State Information Service Egypt, Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty has directed Egypt's embassy in Athens to work closely with Greek authorities. The goal is to provide assistance to survivors and expedite the repatriation of the deceased's bodies once legal formalities are completed. The Egyptian embassy in Athens has also reached out to the families of the deceased to facilitate the process of returning the bodies to Egypt.

The foreign ministry has expressed condolences to the families affected by this tragic accident. It has reiterated its call to citizens to avoid falling prey to irregular migration networks. The ministry urges the use of lawful channels for entry into foreign countries to ensure safety.

Since the launch of its national strategy in 2016, Egypt has been actively working to curb irregular migration. Officials have stressed that Egypt will not function as a transit hub to Europe. Notably, no migrant boats have departed from Egyptian shores since the strategy's implementation, despite the country hosting nearly 10 million foreigners, including refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants from 133 countries.

The strategy has evolved over the years, incorporating the 2024-2026 national action plan by the National Committee for Combating and Preventing Illegal Migration and Trafficking in Persons. Additional initiatives include the 2019 Lifeboats Initiative, which allocated EGP 250 million to create jobs in high-risk villages.

The European Union has supported Egypt's efforts by pledging pound 200 million in grants in March 2024. These funds are intended to bolster border management, enhance search-and-rescue operations, and improve anti-smuggling capacities.