IOM / CRETE SHIPWRECK

More than 250 people have been rescued from a shipwreck off the Greek island of Crete. Joel Millman, spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), told reporters in Geneva that it’s believed that at least 700 migrants were on board the capsized boat when it left Alexandria in Egypt. IOM

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:33
• Production Date: 3 June 2016
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION - IOM
• Subject Topical: MIGRATION
• Geographic Subject: GREECE
• MAMS Id: 1635892
• Parent Id: 1635892
• Alternate Title: unifeed160603a

Description

STORY: IOM / CRETE SHIPWRECK
TRT: 01.33
SOURCE: UNTV CH
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 3 JUNE 2016, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

Shotlist

RECENT - GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

1. Wide shot, Palais des Nations

3 JUNE 2016, GENEVA, SWITZERLAND

2. Wide shot, press briefing room

3. SOUNDBITE (English) Joel Millman, Spokesperson, International Organization for Migration (IOM):
“There’s a shipwreck operation just off of Crete and it’s got an ongoing rescue mission right now. I understand that 250 people have been rescued. An unknown number – we’re told that 700 people were on the boat when it left Alexandria – an unknown number are in the water now and Greek vessels and helicopters are participating in a rescue effort. Our note, as of up to the minute, maybe 20 minutes ago, explained that if there are fatalities from this shipwreck it will be the first in Greece since April. It’s possible there will be hundreds before the day is over.”
4. Wide shot, press briefing room
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Joel Millman, Spokesperson, International Organization for Migration (IOM):
“Crete is opening up as a kind of a new destination. We’ve had several hundred in the last three days. We understand that they sailed from Turkey, not from Africa, and that they fit the profile that we saw from the Balkan route, most of the past 12 months, which is Afghan, Syrians and Iraqis. I know a lot of people have been asking why haven’t we seen those numbers out of Libya, and we haven’t. But, Crete in the last three days has become extremely active and today active could also be tragic.”
6. Various shots, journalists

Storyline

More than 250 people have been rescued from a shipwreck off the Greek island of Crete today (3 June). A rescue operation is underway to try to help hundreds of other people struggling in the water.

Joel Millman, spokesperson for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), told reporters in Geneva that it’s believed that at least 700 migrants were on board the capsized boat when it left Alexandria in Egypt.

Millman said “if there are fatalities from this shipwreck it will be the first in Greece since April. It’s possible there will be hundreds before the day is over.”

The spokesperson said that Crete is opening up as a new destination for migrants: “We’ve had several hundred in the last three days. We understand that they sailed from Turkey, not from Africa, and that they fit the profile that we saw from the Balkan route, most of the past 12 months, which is Afghan, Syrians and Iraqis. I know a lot of people have been asking why haven’t we seen those numbers out of Libya, and we haven’t. But, Crete in the last three days has become extremely active and today active could also be tragic.”

According to reports, four Greek boats and helicopters are involved in today’s rescue efforts near the coast of Crete.