Somalia urges investigation into 5 nationals frozen to death along Greek-Turkish border

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - Somalia's Foreign Ministry urged the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to "immediately" investigate the deaths of five nationals who were found dead along the Greek-Turkish border earlier this month.

"The Federal of Somalia has been regrettably informed that the migrants found frozen to death along the Greek- Turkish border included five Somali nationals," the ministry said in a statement.

The five Somalis were among 12 people found frozen to death on Feb. 2.

Somalia said it was "deeply saddened" about the tragic loss of the individuals and it is mourning for the loss. It offered "heartfelt" condolences to the families of the victims and loved ones.

Mogadishu demanded that concerned countries and the UN follow up and investigate circumstances surrounding the deaths and condemned in the "strongest possible terms the violation of human rights, human dignity and safety of human lives in line with” the 1951 Geneva Convention relating to refugees.

Nineteen irregular migrants were found frozen to death near the border last week, having been stripped of their belongings, including clothes and shoes, before being pushed back to Turkiye by Greek border officials.

Greece, calling the incident a "tragedy," firmly denied any involvement.

Turkiye and international human rights groups have criticized Greece’s inhumane treatment of migrants and accused it of disregarding the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.