AEGEAN BOAT REPORT WEEKLY UPDATE – WEEK 38 (SEPTEMBER 14 – SEPTEMBER 20) This week, 15 boats carrying 313 people attempted to reach the Greek Aegean Islands. 🚫 11 boats were stopped/pushed back — 229 people intercepted ✅ 4 boats arrived — 84 people were officially registered on the islands ⸻ Of all boats that attempted the journey: ✅ 26.7% reached Greece 🚫 73.3% were intercepted by the Turkish Coast Guard or police ⸻ 📉 Arrivals decreased by 69.2% compared to last week. ➡️ The number of registered boats arriving on the islands fell from 12 last week to 4 this week. 📉 The total number of boats departing towards the Greek islands decreased from 23 last week to 15 this week. 📉 Transfers to the mainland decreased by 72.2%, with 175 people relocated. 👥 Official island population: 5,825 ⸻ So far this year: 🚫 456 boats carrying 10,639 people have been intercepted by the Turkish Coast Guard or police. ✅ 232 boats carrying 6,374 people have reached the Greek Aegean Islands. These numbers should have been significantly higher were it not for pushbacks carried out by the Hellenic Coast Guard. Transfers to the mainland remain essential to reduce pressure on reception facilities. Although arrivals fell sharply this week, mainland transfers fell even further, and the official island population rose by 598 people compared to last week. Over the last 30 days, the population on the islands has risen by 1,519 people. This increase is mainly due to more people arriving on the islands than being transferred to the mainland over that period. If arrivals rise again or transfers remain low, the island population is likely to increase further. ⸻ Despite increasing pressure on our organisation and the continued criminalisation of humanitarian work, Aegean Boat Report continues to monitor the Aegean around the clock, documenting arrivals and human rights violations, and ensuring that people in distress are not left without a voice. If you want to support our work, please consider making a donation: whydonate.com/en/fundraising… Every contribution helps us continue monitoring the Aegean 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

EIGHT PEOPLE ARRIVED ON CHIOS — INJURED MAN AND SON FOUND AFTER OVERNIGHT SEARCH Just after midnight last night, three young men contacted Aegean Boat Report from the outskirts of Olimpi on Chios. They said they had arrived with five others on the island’s southwestern coast earlier that night. After the group separated, the three had walked for hours through difficult terrain. They asked for help reaching the camp so they could be registered. During that first conversation, they did not mention that a man who had arrived with them had injured his foot when jumping from the boat. Unable to walk, he had remained behind in a remote wooded area with his son. We learned about the man and his son when family members contacted us separately. We had no direct contact with them, and the information about their location was secondhand. At first, we could not tell whether they were connected to the three men near Olimpi. We then asked the three men about the others who had arrived with them and showed them photographs of the man and his son. They confirmed that they had arrived together and that the man had injured his foot. According to local press, 11 firefighters began searching at 04:45. They located the man after first light in difficult terrain near Apothika. He and his son were brought to safety, and the man received medical treatment. Police and Frontex also assisted. We are relieved that they were found. We do not know why the three men did not mention the injury when they first contacted us. That information was essential: knowing that a man could not walk and that his son was with him would have allowed us to pass on a clearer, more urgent report immediately. Our thanks to the firefighters on Chios and everyone who helped bring the man and his son to safety.

⚠️SAILBOAT CARRYING 25 PEOPLE IN DISTRESS SOUTHEAST OF RHODES⚠️ Aegean Boat Report has been contacted by a group reported to be 25 people aboard a sailboat approximately 23 nautical miles southeast of the Greek island of Rhodes. The group reports that the engine has failed and the boat is taking in water. Photos and videos sent from the sailboat show a large amount of water inside the cabin. People on board are trying to bail out the water with buckets, but they report that it is rising faster than they can remove it. The Greek Search and Rescue Centre in Piraeus has been notified. The people on board need urgent assistance. We lost all communication with the sailboat at 13:00. We will share an update as soon as we have verified information. Question is, when Greek coast guard arrives, will they be rescued and taken to Rhodes, or will they be illegally pushed back and left drifting in life rafts in the Aegean Sea? Update! We have been informed that a Greek coast guard vessel arrived at 13.32 local time, ID number on the vessel is LS616.

For more than eight years, thousands of people have contacted Aegean Boat Report after reaching the Greek islands or while in distress in the Aegean Sea. 🕒 There are no office hours. When people call for help, we answer — 24 hours a day, seven days a week. ⚠️ Important Aegean Boat Report is not a rescue service and cannot provide emergency assistance. Whenever lives are at risk, we immediately forward all available information to the relevant emergency authorities. 🚨 If you are in distress at sea or facing a medical emergency on land, call the European emergency number: 112. ⸻ For years, Aegean Boat Report has worked around the clock to monitor people in distress, document human rights violations and provide independent evidence when authorities fail to protect those seeking safety. Because of this work, we have become a target. A European Arrest Warrant issued by the Greek authorities against the founder of Aegean Boat Report remains in place. It is part of a prolonged effort to criminalise and silence independent documentation of what is happening in the Aegean Sea. But the reality has not changed. People continue to risk their lives crossing the Aegean. Pushbacks are still happening. Human rights violations are still being committed. And someone must continue to document them. As long as we are able, Aegean Boat Report will continue. But whether this work can survive depends entirely on public support. If you believe the Aegean Sea must not become a place where human rights violations happen unseen, please consider supporting our work: 🔗 WhyDonate: whydonate.com/fundraising/th… Every contribution — large or small — helps keep our hotline operating and our independent monitoring alive. 💙 Thank you for standing with us. Aegean Boat Report

TWO BOATS ARRIVED ON LESVOS – 39 PEOPLE At 03:00 last night, a group reported to be 28 people—15 men, 11 women and two children—contacted Aegean Boat Report requesting assistance after arriving at Gialiotissa Beach, west of Fara, on the southern coast of Lesvos. We immediately advised the group to remain together and not split into smaller groups. Unfortunately, they separated into at least four groups and began moving in different directions through difficult terrain, making it extremely challenging for those trying to locate them. Aegean Boat Report remained in contact with the different groups throughout the night and into the morning. Several had contacted the authorities and local organisations, but because of the remote and difficult area where they arrived—and because they were scattered across a large area—it took considerable time to locate everyone. As far as we know, the first group was found around noon. The remaining groups were gradually located during the day and afternoon. This afternoon, we received confirmation that all 28 people had been found and transported to the Mavrovouni Closed Controlled Access Centre for registration. At 05:30, a second group, reported to be 11 people, contacted Aegean Boat Report requesting assistance after arriving at Tilagrafos Beach, near Tsichlionta, between Eresos and Sigri on the southwestern coast of Lesvos. The group initially moved into the nearby hills to hide, attempting to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the sea. We advised them not to remain hidden, but instead to move towards a populated area where they could be more easily located by the authorities and transported to the reception centre. The group followed our advice and began walking towards Chliara at first light. At approximately 09:00, they informed us that they had arrived. Local authorities were notified, and police arrived at around 10:30. The group was then transported to the Mavrovouni Closed Controlled Access Centre for registration. All 39 people who arrived on the two boats have now been located and registered, numbers have not been officially confirmed. Aegean Boat Report is an independent organisation documenting arrivals, disappearances and illegal pushbacks in the Aegean. Our work is entirely dependent on donations. If you want to support our work, you can donate here: whydonate.com/en/fundraising…

Fewer People Are Reaching Europe by Sea – But More Are Dying New figures from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) reveal a disturbing development at Europe’s borders. By 15 September, almost 60,000 people had reached Europe by sea, compared with 98,040 during the same period last year — a 39% decrease. But deaths and disappearances have increased. At least 2,292 people have died or gone missing on Mediterranean and Atlantic routes towards Europe this year, compared with 1,999 last year. The same contradiction can be seen on individual routes. In the Central Mediterranean, arrivals fell 55%, while deaths and disappearances increased from 844 to 996. Greece recorded almost 20% fewer arrivals, while deaths and disappearances across the Eastern Mediterranean increased 47%, from 284 to 417. At the same time, more people are attempting the much longer crossing from eastern Libya towards Crete and Gavdos — hundreds of kilometres across open Mediterranean. And more than 17,000 people have been intercepted at sea and returned to Libya this year. They do not appear in Europe’s arrival figures. This matters when declining arrivals are presented as evidence of successful border policies. Arrival statistics tell us how many people reached Europe. They do not tell us how many tried, how many were intercepted and returned, how many shifted towards other routes, or how many disappeared without ever being recorded. Fewer arrivals do not mean safer borders. If fewer people are reaching Europe while more are dying or disappearing on the journey, declining arrivals cannot, on their own, be presented as evidence that Europe’s borders have become safer. Full report 👇 aegeanboatreport.com/2026/09…

NEW ARRIVALS ON SAMOS Shortly after midnight last night, Aegean Boat Report was contacted by a group of 17 people—seven men, six women and four children—who had arrived near Livadaki on the northwestern coast of Samos. The group asked for assistance so that they could be located by the authorities and transported to the camp. We advised them to remain together, not to hide and to move to a location where they could easily be found. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, they split into two groups of eight and nine people. Both groups began walking east, separately. We repeatedly advised them not to continue moving around in the darkness, but to remain together in one safe location. This would make it easier for the authorities to find them quickly. One group walked east past the village of Agios Konstantinos and followed the road halfway towards Valeontades before eventually finding shelter for the remainder of the night. At first light, both groups were located on the main road. All 17 people were eventually transported to the Zervou Closed Controlled Access Centre. Aegean Boat Report is an independent organisation relying entirely on donations to continue monitoring the Aegean and assisting people in need. Please consider supporting our work: whydonate.com/fundraising/th…

🚨 AROUND 179 PEOPLE REPORTED IN DISTRESS SOUTH OF CRETE Alarm Phone has today issued three separate distress alerts concerning boats south of Crete, carrying approximately 59, 70 and 50 people. The different numbers reported and the locations provided indicate that these are three separate boats, although this has not yet been independently confirmed. According to Alarm Phone: 🔴 Around 59 people reported that water was entering their boat. Contact with them has since been lost, and there has been no confirmation of a rescue operation. 🔴 Relatives of 70 people reported losing contact with their boat several hours earlier. 🔴 Alarm Phone remains in contact with another 50 people, who report struggling against strong winds while water is entering their boat. They are said to be extremely frightened. The Hellenic Coast Guard has been informed about all three cases and urged to launch immediate search-and-rescue operations. These new emergencies are unfolding in the same wider area where a boat carrying 77 people was found partially submerged only days ago. In that shipwreck, 51 people survived, one person was confirmed dead and around 25 remain missing and are feared drowned. After yet another deadly shipwreck, there can be no excuse for delay. At present, there has been no confirmed information that any of today’s groups have been rescued. Potentially 179 lives are at risk. Greek authorities must immediately locate and rescue everyone on board. We will update when more information becomes available.

AEGEAN BOAT REPORT WEEKLY UPDATE – WEEK 37 (SEPTEMBER 7 – SEPTEMBER 13) This week, 23 boats carrying 553 people attempted to reach the Greek Aegean Islands. 🚫 11 boats were stopped/pushed back — 280 people intercepted ✅ 12 boats arrived — 273 people were officially registered on the islands ⸻ Of all boats that attempted the journey: ✅ 52.2% reached Greece 🚫 47.8% were intercepted by the Turkish Coast Guard or police ⸻ 📈 Arrivals increased by 17.7% compared to last week. ➡️ The number of registered boats arriving on the islands increased from 11 boats last week to 12 boats this week. 📉 The total number of boats departing towards the Greek islands decreased from 32 boats last week to 23 boats this week. 📈 Transfers to the mainland increased by 111.1%, with 629 people relocated. 👥 Official island population: 5,227 ⸻ So far this year: 🚫 445 boats carrying 10,410 people have been intercepted by the Turkish Coast Guard or police. ✅ 228 boats carrying 6,290 people have reached the Greek Aegean Islands. These numbers should have been significantly higher were it not for pushbacks carried out by the Hellenic Coast Guard. Transfers to the mainland remain essential to reduce pressure on the reception facilities as arrivals continue. Despite a slight decrease this week, the official island population remains significantly higher than one month ago. Over the last 30 days, the population on the islands has risen by 1,772 people. This increase is mainly due to more people arriving on the islands than being transferred to the mainland. This may only be temporary. If arrivals remain high or transfers decrease, the island population is likely to rise further. ⸻ Despite increasing pressure on our organisation and the continued criminalisation of humanitarian work, Aegean Boat Report continues to monitor the Aegean around the clock, documenting arrivals, human rights violations, and ensuring that people in distress are not left without a voice. If you want to support our work, please consider making a donation: whydonate.com/en/fundraising… Every contribution helps us continue monitoring the Aegean 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

77 PEOPLE WERE TAKING ON WATER. GREEK AUTHORITIES WERE ALERTED. HOURS LATER, ONE WAS DEAD AND 25 WERE MISSING. Another deadly shipwreck has taken place south of Gavdos — but this time there are serious questions about what happened before the boat sank. At 14:58 on September 13, Alarm Phone publicly raised the alarm for 77 people in distress south of Crete. Relatives of people onboard reported that water was entering the boat and the group was very afraid. Alarm Phone stated that it had contacted the Hellenic Coast Guard in Piraeus, which said it would investigate. The situation was therefore not simply a boat later discovered after an accident. Greek authorities had reportedly been warned that 77 people were at sea on a leaking vessel and needed rescue. Hours later, the consequences became clear. A vessel carrying 77 people was found partially submerged approximately 38 nautical miles south of Gavdos. 51 people survived. One person is dead. Approximately 25 people remain missing. Alarm Phone believes this was the same boat it had reported hours earlier. The identical number of people — 77 — strongly supports that connection. Alarm Phone has made an even more serious allegation: that Greek authorities initially responded that Libyan authorities should be the ones to rescue the boat. Aegean Boat Report has not independently verified that exchange, and we therefore attribute this information directly to Alarm Phone. But one fact urgently requires explanation: Greek authorities were reportedly informed in the afternoon that 77 people were in distress and their boat was taking on water. Why were dozens of them dead or missing hours later? According to media reports, the 51 survivors were eventually rescued by merchant vessels. The wider operation involved Hellenic Coast Guard assets and a substantial Frontex presence, including several vessels and aerial surveillance assets. And this was not an unknown or unexpected route. THE WATERS SOUTH OF CRETE ARE BEING HEAVILY MONITORED Arrivals from Libya to Crete and Gavdos have increased dramatically this year, with thousands of people arriving along this route. Greek authorities and Frontex have responded with extensive maritime and aerial surveillance. Only days before this tragedy, Frontex drones detected several refugee boats south of Gavdos, leading to successful interceptions and rescues. In recent cases, Frontex drones have detected boats 39–42 nautical miles south of Gavdos. This shipwreck happened approximately 38 nautical miles south of Gavdos. That does not prove that Frontex detected this particular boat before it sank. But it demonstrates something important: This is a known route, in a known operational area, under active surveillance by Greek and European authorities. So what happened on September 13? When did the Hellenic Coast Guard formally receive the distress information? What coordinates were provided? When was EKSED/MRCC Piraeus informed? When were rescue assets dispatched? Where were the nearest Hellenic Coast Guard and Frontex vessels? Were Frontex surveillance aircraft or drones monitoring the area? When did the first rescue asset actually reach the boat? And did Greek authorities, as Alarm Phone alleges, initially attempt to place responsibility for the rescue on Libya? There may be answers to these questions that have not yet been made public. But Greek authorities and Frontex now have an obligation to provide them. Because somewhere between the distress warning in the afternoon and the rescue operation later that day, a boat carrying 77 people partially sank. One person is dead. Approximately 25 people are still missing. This cannot be reduced to another statistic from the Mediterranean. We need to know what happened during those hours — and whether these lives could have been saved.

FOUR GROUPS ARRIVE ON SAMOS AND LESVOS – ALL 97 PEOPLE LOCATED Four groups carrying a total of 97 people contacted Aegean Boat Report for assistance during the night and early morning after arriving on Samos and Lesvos. In the early hours of today, a group of 25 people contacted Aegean Boat Report after arriving at Cape Prason, on the northeastern tip of Samos. Because of a poor internet connection, they were unable to provide pictures or videos. Before we could offer further assistance, all contact with them was lost. We later learned that the group had been located and transported to the Zervou Closed Controlled Access Centre on Samos. At 04.42, a second group contacted us from the same area of Samos, this time from near the Monastery of Zoodochos Pigi. The group consisted of 21 people—19 men and two women—and was hiding in the woods close to the monastery. We advised them to come out of hiding and move to the parking area outside the monastery, where they could be more easily located and transported to the camp. After sunrise, they followed our advice and moved down to the monastery. At 08.00, we were informed that they had been located and that their transport to the Zervou Closed Controlled Access Centre had begun. At 04.50, a third group of 10 people contacted Aegean Boat Report after arriving northwest of Agios Fokas, on the southwestern coast of Lesvos. They walked uphill towards the northeast before finding a dirt track, which they followed further north. We advised them to contact the local authorities and organisations so that they could be located and transported to the camp. At first, they hesitated and told us they were afraid. There are no villages close to the area where they were walking. After we explained that they would otherwise have to walk for a very long time, they decided to contact the authorities. At noon, we were informed that they had been located and transported to the Mavrovouni Closed Controlled Access Centre on Lesvos. At first light, a fourth group of 41 people—16 men, 14 women and 11 children—contacted Aegean Boat Report and asked for assistance after arriving at the Chapel of Saint Demetrius, on the northern coast of Lesvos. After arriving, they began walking slowly uphill along a small dirt track that eventually leads to the village of Lepetymnos. Because the group included many young children, they moved slowly and stopped several times to rest in the shade beneath the trees. It took them a long time to reach the village. When they eventually arrived, local residents kindly contacted the police on their behalf. At 14.40, we were informed that the local authorities and Frontex had arrived. The group was then transported to the Mavrovouni Closed Controlled Access Centre. By the afternoon, all four groups—97 people in total—had been accounted for and transported to the respective reception facilities on Samos and Lesvos. ⸻ Aegean Boat Report is an independent organisation relying entirely on donations to document human rights violations in the Aegean and assist people seeking protection. Please support our work if you can: whydonate.com/en/fundraising… Every contribution helps us continue this work. Thank you for your continued support and solidarity ❤️

AEGEAN BOAT REPORT – MONTHLY UPDATE (AUGUST 2026) In August 2026, arrivals to the Greek Aegean islands increased compared to July, while interceptions at at sea and documented illegal pushbacks remained defining features of border enforcement in the region. A total of 1,190 people arrived on the Greek islands aboard 43 boats, while the Turkish Coast Guard intercepted or recovered 71 boats carrying 1,842 people. Some were stopped before reaching Greece, while others were recovered after reported or documented pushbacks from Greek territory. Compared to July: • 📈 Arrivals increased by 30.6% • 📈 Arriving boats increased by 43.3% • 📉 Transfers to the mainland decreased by 58.7% (527 people relocated) Demographics on the islands this month: Men 46%, Women 23%, Children 31% ⸻ Arrivals by Island Of the 43 boats officially registered in August: • Lesvos: 11 boats — 322 people • Samos: 7 boats — 222 people • Chios: 6 boats — 133 people • Kos: 2 boats — 60 people • Leros: 0 boats — 0 people • Other islands and smaller islets: 17 boats — 453 people ⸻ Pushbacks In August, Aegean Boat Report documented 8 pushback cases in the Aegean Sea, involving 220 men, women and children who attempted to reach safety in Europe but were forcibly returned. Two of these cases involved the use of rescue equipment. Fifty people—including children, women and men—were forced into three life rafts and left helplessly drifting at sea by the Hellenic Coast Guard. The continued use of life-saving equipment as a tool for illegal deportations shows that this dangerous and systematic practice remains part of Greece’s pushback operations in the Aegean. So far in 2026, Aegean Boat Report has documented 48 pushback cases involving 1,351 people. Since March 2020, Aegean Boat Report has documented more than 3,400 pushback incidents involving over 94,000 men, women and children attempting to seek safety in Europe. ⸻ Population on the Islands By the end of August, 5,067 people remained on the Greek islands, down from 5,567 one year ago, representing a 9.0% decrease. Official island capacity: 14,843 people Current population is 9,776 below official capacity. Breakdown by island: • Lesvos: 826 • Samos: 1,041 • Chios: 406 • Kos: 1,130 • Leros: 1,654 • Other islands: 10 In the last 12 months, 3,957 people have been pushed back by Greek authorities. Despite the increase recorded in August, arrivals so far in 2026 remain 60.2% lower than during the same period in 2025. The Greek government continues to restrict access to Greek territory through documented illegal pushbacks of people attempting to cross from Türkiye in small rubber boats. ⸻ Why This Matters This is not just about numbers. Behind every statistic is a person who attempted to reach safety—and was either allowed to enter a legal process or prevented from doing so. What happens at Europe’s borders today defines what kind of system exists tomorrow. When people are stopped at sea, denied access to asylum procedures or forced back without due process, it is not migration policy—it is the erosion of fundamental rights. These incidents occur across different islands, involve different nationalities and take place over long periods of time. Taken together, they reveal a consistent pattern rather than isolated events. Without independent monitoring, there is no transparency. Without transparency, there is no accountability. And without accountability, these practices continue. ⸻ Aegean Boat Report continues to monitor the Aegean around the clock, documenting arrivals, human rights violations and incidents at sea, while preserving independent evidence when authorities fail to protect those seeking safety. Aegean Boat Report is an independent organisation relying entirely on donations to document human rights violations in the Aegean and assist people seeking protection. Please support our work if you can: whydonate.com/en/fundraising… Every contribution helps❤️

27 people in distress called 112 and were told help was coming. They filmed Greek Coast Guard vessel LS-060 alongside them. Hours later, Turkey rescued 27 people from a life raft, reporting they had been pushed back by Greek assets. Our investigation: aegeanboatreport.com/2026/09…

AEGEAN BOAT REPORT WEEKLY UPDATE – WEEK 36 (AUGUST 31 – SEPTEMBER 6) This week, 32 boats carrying 658 people attempted to reach the Greek Aegean Islands. 🚫 21 boats were stopped/pushed back — 426 people intercepted ✅ 11 boats arrived — 232 people were officially registered on the islands ⸻ Of all boats that attempted the journey: ✅ 34.4% reached Greece 🚫 65.6% were intercepted by the Turkish Coast Guard or police ⸻ 📉 Arrivals decreased by 0.9% compared to last week. ➡️ The number of registered boats arriving on the islands increased from 10 boats last week to 11 boats this week. 📈 The total number of boats departing towards the Greek islands increased from 22 boats last week to 32 boats this week. 📈 Transfers to the mainland increased by 9.2%, with 298 people relocated. 👥 Official island population: 5,282 ⸻ So far this year: 🚫 434 boats carrying 10,130 people have been intercepted by the Turkish Coast Guard or police. ✅ 216 boats carrying 6,013 people have reached the Greek Aegean Islands. These numbers should have been significantly higher were it not for pushbacks carried out by the Hellenic Coast Guard. Transfers to the mainland remain essential to reduce pressure on the reception facilities as arrivals continue. The official island population has increased significantly. Over the last 30 days, the population on the islands has risen by 1,879 people. This increase is mainly due to more people arriving on the islands than being transferred to the mainland. This may only be temporary. If arrivals remain high or transfers decrease, the island population is likely to rise further. ⸻ Despite increasing pressure on our organisation and the continued criminalisation of humanitarian work, Aegean Boat Report continues to monitor the Aegean around the clock, documenting arrivals, human rights violations, and ensuring that people in distress are not left without a voice. If you want to support our work, please consider making a donation: whydonate.com/en/fundraising… Every contribution helps us continue monitoring the Aegean 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

AEGEAN BOAT REPORT WEEKLY UPDATE – WEEK 35 (AUGUST 24 – AUGUST 30) This week, 22 boats carrying 592 people attempted to reach the Greek Aegean Islands. 🚫 12 boats were stopped/pushed back — 358 people intercepted ✅ 10 boats arrived — 234 people were officially registered on the islands ⸻ Of all boats that attempted the journey: ✅ 45.5% reached Greece 🚫 54.5% were intercepted by the Turkish Coast Guard or police ⸻ 📉 Arrivals decreased by 5.3% compared to last week. ➡️ The number of registered boats arriving on the islands increased from 9 boats last week to 10 boats this week. 📉 The total number of boats departing towards the Greek islands decreased from 26 boats last week to 22 boats this week. 📈 Transfers to the mainland increased by 425%, with 273 people relocated. 👥 Official island population: 4,912 ⸻ So far this year: 🚫 413 boats carrying 9,704 people have been intercepted by the Turkish Coast Guard or police. ✅ 205 boats carrying 5,781 people have reached the Greek Aegean Islands. These numbers should have been significantly higher were it not for pushbacks carried out by the Hellenic Coast Guard. Transfers to the mainland remain essential to reduce pressure on the reception facilities as arrivals continue. The official island population has increased significantly. Over the last 30 days, the population on the islands has risen by 1,693 people. This increase is mainly due to more people arriving on the islands than being transferred to the mainland. This may only be temporary. If arrivals remain high or transfers decrease, the island population is likely to rise further. ⸻ Despite increasing pressure on our organisation and the continued criminalisation of humanitarian work, Aegean Boat Report continues to monitor the Aegean around the clock, documenting arrivals, human rights violations, and ensuring that people in distress are not left without a voice. If you want to support our work, please consider making a donation: whydonate.com/en/fundraising… Every contribution helps us continue monitoring the Aegean 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

14 People Lose Contact After Encounter With Armed Men on Kalolimnos – Fears of a Possible Pushback Just before midnight, Aegean Boat Report was contacted by a group reported to consist of 14 people—nine men, three women and two children—asking for assistance after arriving on the militarised Greek island of Kalolimnos. The island has no civilian residents, only military personnel stationed at the base. People arriving there face a serious risk of pushback. The group did not know where they had landed. After we explained their very limited options, they decided to walk towards the military base. At 00.20, approximately halfway along the island’s only road, they reported being stopped by several armed men in uniform, who ordered them to stop using their phones. At 00.27, we received their final message: “They are not letting us use the phones, they are taking them from us.” By 00.28, all phones had gone offline. We have heard nothing from the group since. We hope that all 14 people will be safely transported to Leros in the morning. However, the reported confiscation of their phones gives us serious cause for concern. Removing people’s means of communication prevents them from seeking assistance, sharing their location or recording what happens to them. This is a pattern we have repeatedly documented before pushbacks. Of course, our concerns could prove to be unfounded, and we sincerely hope they are. We may receive confirmation in the morning that the group has safely reached the camp on Leros. Or we may learn that the Turkish coast guard has found 14 people drifting in a life raft in the area during the night. At this stage, we do not know what will happen. What we can document is that this group was on Kalolimnos before all contact was lost. What happens next is in the hands of the Greek authorities. We will be paying close attention, seeking confirmation of the group’s whereabouts and reporting any evidence of misconduct—as well as any confirmation that they have reached safety. ⸻ Aegean Boat Report is an independent organisation relying entirely on donations to document human rights violations in the Aegean and assist people seeking protection. Please support our work if you can: whydonate.com/en/fundraising… Every contribution helps us continue this work. Thank you for your continued support and solidarity ❤️

42 People Arrive on Rhodes and Samos, Including Eight Children Yesterday, 1 September, at 08.00, a group reported to consist of 27 people—13 men, six women and eight children—contacted Aegean Boat Report for assistance after arriving on Agiou Georgiou Beach, on the southern coast of Rhodes. The group walked inland through difficult terrain for several hours before reaching a road, where they rested under some trees. An elderly woman in the group was unwell, and a call was made to 112 requesting medical assistance. An ambulance arrived at 11.00, but according to the group, the crew refused to take her to hospital despite her poor condition. The ambulance left, and the group was told to wait for the police. Almost two hours later, police arrived, and we lost all contact with the group. We were later informed that all 27 people had been transported to a temporary shelter. We hope the elderly woman has since received the medical attention she needs, and that the group will be transferred to a reception facility on Leros or Kos. At 04.15 this morning, 2 September, a second group, reported to consist of 15 people—12 men and three women—contacted Aegean Boat Report for assistance after arriving on Mikri Lakka Beach, on the northeastern coast of Samos. The group began climbing the hillside to put some distance between themselves and the sea, afraid of being forced back to sea and illegally pushed back to Turkey. While moving through the difficult terrain, the group split up. Four people stayed behind in hiding, while the remaining 11 continued towards a road on the outskirts of Kamara. The 11 were located by local authorities and transported to the Closed Controlled Access Centre in Zervou at around 08.00. The four who had remained behind were located approximately four hours later and arrived at the camp around noon. All 15 people are now reported to be in the camp. ⸻ Aegean Boat Report is an independent organisation relying entirely on donations to document human rights violations in the Aegean and assist people seeking protection. Please support our work if you can: whydonate.com/en/fundraising… Every contribution helps us continue this work. Thank you for your continued support and solidarity ❤️