Derry Anti War Coalition vigil for the victims drowned off coast of Greece

Derry Anti War Coalition (DAWC) will mark UN World Refugee Day with a vigil for the victims of the shipwreck off the coast of Greece where it is feared hundreds of people may have drowned.

The event will take place at the Famine Statues on the Quay by Sainsbury's car park on Tuesday, June 20, at Tuesday 5.30pm. It will then move to the Peace Bridge, where activists will drop flowers into the water to remember all those refugees who have lost their lives at sea.

DAWC spokesperson, Davy McAuley laid the blame for the tragedy on the policies of the European Union.

He said: “The world should be furious about the tragedy that took the lives of potentially hundreds off the coast of Greece on June 14.

“This is one of Europe’s deadliest disasters in recent years and is a stain on the migration policy EU Member States and international partners have led in the past decade.

“At a time when barriers should be torn down the barbed wire to keep refugees out gets higher. Desperate people are being forced to take desperate measures to escape war. It is an absolute shame on the UK, US and EU that in 2023 there are still 'coffin ships' sailing into disaster.

“We need to establish safe passage for refugees. These poor people cannot be left to the mercy of people traffickers and unsafe boats.”