Greek land borders and migration fatalities – Humanitarian disaster described from the standpoint of Evros

Pavlidis, Pavlos; Karakasi, Maria‐Valeria

doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2019.109875

Cited by 10 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…Vulnerable persons embarking on the dangerous marine crossings via the Mediterranean to reach Europe often consist of poor and unsecure ship conditions. Many humans fall into the water when these vessels leak or capsize, resulting in a humanitarian crisis due to the need for rescue and fatalities [11]. A high proportion of these migrants crossing the sea might be characterized by poor health and fitness status, might be malnourished and/or poorly clothed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Throughout the year, the Mediterranean represents one of the major gateways for human migratory fluxes from Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia to Europe. Indeed, sea accidents have become an urgent humanitarian crisis, due to the especially high number of migrants on the move [11]. This includes at least 1146 people who have died attempting to reach Europe by sea in the first six months of 2021, constituting a substantial increase compared to fatalities reported in the same period in 2020 (513) and 2019 (674) [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Marine Survival in the Mediterranean: A Pilot Study on the Cognitive and Cardiorespiratory Response to Sudden Cool Water Immersion

Stella

Morrison

2022

IJERPH

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Background and Aim: The Mediterranean is one of the major gateways of human migratory fluxes from Northern Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia to Europe. Sea accidents have become an urgent humanitarian crisis due to the high number of migrants on the move, but data on the physiological effects to sudden cool water immersion are not as extensive as cold-water studies. We wanted to evaluate to what extent cool water immersion (~18 °C) may detrimentally affect cognitive ability and cardiorespiratory strain compared to the more prevalent cold-water (<10–15 °C) studies. Methods: In this case, 10 active, healthy men participated in this study which consisted of completing one familiarization trial, and then a control (CON) or experimental (EXP) trial in a randomized, repeated-measures, cross-over fashion, separated by at least 7-days. Cognitive function was assessed via the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), a code substitution test, performed at baseline, then repeated in either a thermoneutral (~25 °C room air) dry environment, or when immersed to the neck in 18 °C water. Testing consisted of six “Step” time-blocks 45-s each, with a 5-s pause between each Step. Cardiorespiratory measures, continuously recorded, included heart rate (beats per minute), minute ventilation (V˙E, L∙min−1), oxygen consumption (V˙O2, L∙min−1), and respiratory frequency (fR, count∙min−1). Results: Initial responses to cool water (<2 min) found that participants performed ~11% worse on the code substitution test (p = 0.025), consumed 149% greater amounts of oxygen (CI: 5.1 to 9.1 L∙min−1, p < 0.0001) and experienced higher cardiovascular strain (HR CI: 13 to 38 beats per minute, p = 0.001) than during the control trial. Physiological strain was in-line to those observed in much colder water temperature. Conclusion: Sudden, cool water immersion also negatively affects cognitive function and cardiorespiratory strain, especially during the first two minutes of exposure. The magnitude increase in heart rate is strongly associated with poorer cognitive function, even in (relatively) warmer water consistent with temperatures found in the Mediterranean Sea environment.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Marine Survival in the Mediterranean: A Pilot Study on the Cognitive and Cardiorespiratory Response to Sudden Cool Water Immersion

Stella

Morrison

2022

IJERPH

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“…These expanding border assemblages have rendered the Evros borderland particularly violent and deadly. Between 2000 and 2008, at least 49 people crossing the border were killed by landmines, a legacy of the border crisis of 1974 triggered by the Turkish invasion of Cyprus (Levidis 2020;Pavlidis and Karakasi 2019). While landmine deaths declined after demining was completed in 2009 (Topak 2014;Ulusoy et al 2019), the death toll remained high, making Evros the deadliest land border in Europe (Fundamental Rights Agency [FRA] 2020).…”

Section: State Crime 111 2022mentioning

confidence: 99%

From Exception to Extra-Legal Normality: Pushbacks and Racist State Violence against People Crossing the Greek–Turkish Land Border

Karamanidou¹,

Kasparek²

2022

SCJ

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The Greek–Turkish land border became the site of a border spectacle in March 2020, following the “opening” of the border by the Turkish government and its simultaneous closure by the Greek government. The ensuing violence was legitimated by narratives of exception and racist discourses hinging on the notions of “invasion” and “asymmetrical threats.” Yet, the spectacular and highly mediatized nature of the events of March 2020 hid the embeddedness and longevity of border violence in Evros, the area named after the river that constitutes the land border between Greece and Turkey. Drawing on qualitative research including fieldwork, interviews and document analysis, we focus on the practice of pushbacks as an enduring feature of the local border regime. We argue that pushbacks and other forms of violence should not be conceived merely as human rights violations and therefore aberrations to the laws and values of Europe and its states, but as normalized technologies of border management embedded in the racialized, violent border regimes of liberal states, exemplifying the inherent and unavoidable violence of borders.

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“…Other similarly tragic regions include areas where individuals attempt to cross the Maritsa or Evros Rivers (Meriç Nehri, in Turkey), which represents the border between Turkey and Greece for hundreds of kilometers. In this region, 398 cadavers have been recovered between 2000 and 2019, some in an advanced state of putrefaction (Pavlidis & Karakasi, 2019), posing many difficulties for identification, and highlighting the need to use DNA and the necessity of proper reference databases. In all 398 cases, material for genetic testing was obtained, and some identifications were made, based on DNA analysis.…”

Section: Enlarging the Size And Contents Of Existing Missing Persons Dna Databasesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unidentified children represent a chronic, endemic problem in many regions of the world and are worse in some countries or regions than in others, due to forced migrations following armed conflicts, such as the migratory routes to Europe after escaping from conflicts in Syria and Iraq. These routes are associated with difficult journeys, often leading to death, especially near the Greek-Turkish border (Pavlidis & Karakasi, 2019) and on the Italian island of Lampedusa, in the middle of the Mediterranean sea (Olivieri et al, 2018).…”

Section: Child Traffickingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Genetic identification against traffic in human beings

Lorente

Saiz

Haarkötter

et al. 2020

WIREs Forensic Science

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The trafficking of human beings is one of the most heinous crimes on earth. Shamefully, human trafficking remains a lucrative business in 2020, just as it was thousands of years ago. The estimated astonishing number of victims would most likely surprise nonexperts. The prosecution of human trafficking is often difficult and requires the identification of victims. The fields of forensic anthropology and forensic odontology are of the highest value for this purpose. Forensic genetics is also of interest and can be applied not only to solving crimes but also to preventing them. At the University of Granada, we aim to pioneer the application of these technologies to both solve and prevent human trafficking. In 1999, we introduced the first national missing persons genetic identification program, the Spanish Phoenix Program; in 2004, we created and launched DNA-PROKIDS, designed to deter child trafficking; and in 2016, we created DNA-ProORGAN, a program that is currently being developed to identify transplanted organs, by obtaining DNA samples from the donor, the transplanted organ, and the recipient, to track transplants and identify illegal activities. Several tasks remain, despite existing technological advances and international cooperation. National missing persons databases must be enlarged, and new ones must be created, to facilitate the generation of reliable data. Specific legislation, at the national level, can be enacted to support database development and promote international interactions. These advances would help solve crimes and prevent them, representing the primary challenge faced by forensic science community in the 21st century. This article is categorized under: Forensic Biology > DNA Databases and Biometrics K E Y W O R D S DNA, forensic science, genetic identification, human rights, human trafficking 1 | INTRODUCTION Human trafficking remains an immense problem and a heinous crime that has been perpetrated by humanity since its origins. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the anticipated worldwide economic crisis will, most

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Greek land borders and migration fatalities – Humanitarian disaster described from the standpoint of Evros

Cited by 10 publications

References 6 publications

Marine Survival in the Mediterranean: A Pilot Study on the Cognitive and Cardiorespiratory Response to Sudden Cool Water Immersion

Marine Survival in the Mediterranean: A Pilot Study on the Cognitive and Cardiorespiratory Response to Sudden Cool Water Immersion

From Exception to Extra-Legal Normality: Pushbacks and Racist State Violence against People Crossing the Greek–Turkish Land Border

Genetic identification against traffic in human beings

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