Tragedy in the Mediterranean: Was the migrant boat disaster avoidable?

The tragedy comes weeks ahead of the Greek elections, in which a right-wing party is expected to win, and just days after the EU struck a deal on a new asylum pact to better share the burden on legal and illegal entries into the bloc.

Last Sunday, Italy’s far-right prime minister, Giorgia Meloni, flanked by her Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, met with Tunisian President Kais Saied to seal a migrant pact along the lines of those with neighbouring Libya and Turkey.

What's the way forward to avoid tragedy for those desperate enough to risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean? And why did the vessel that set sail from Tobruk in Libya refuse offers to dock in Greece, instead trying to chart a course to Italian waters?

We ask about Athens' draconian migrant policy, with not only detention centres but also video evidence of asylum seekers ditched at sea.

Produced by Alessandro Xenos, Josephine Joly and Imen Mellaz.

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