The body of a child, estimated to have been 12 to 15 years old, was recovered from the sea near Greece’s Cycladic island of Iraklia last week.

The remains, which were in an advanced state of decay, were spotted by a passing sailing boat. With the assistance of the local emergency services, the body was removed to the local health centre, where an autopsy will be carried out.

Port officials are investigating the incident. Preliminary investigation indicates the child is among the 16 migrants, among them eight Palestinians from Syria, who died at sea between December 22-25 off the islands of Paros and Folegandros.

On January 08, the body of a three-year old child was recovered from the Aegean sea. A couple of days earlier, the bodies of a man, woman, and two girls were spotted off Naxos and Paros islands. Several other migrants have been unaccounted for.

So far, dozens of Palestinian refugees drowned onboard migrant vessels, fleeing conflict and economic hardship. Scores of them died of cold on route to EU destinations.

A number of casualties breathed their last off the Libyan seashore on way to Italy while others sunk in Marmara waters as they tried to reach the Greek coast. Dozens of migrants have gone missing.