Greek authorities rescue irregular migrants pushed back from their borders
Turkish Coast Guard Rescues 19 Migrants from Greek Waters
On Monday, Turkish Coast Guard teams received a report about irregular migrants who were stranded in a life raft just off the coast of the Dalaman district, Turkey. The coastguards immediately sent out a rescue boat to the area to rescue the immigrants. After a while of searching, they found a group of 19 migrants who had been pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by the Greek coast guard.
The migrants had been attempting to cross the Aegean Sea from Turkey to the nearby Greek islands in the hopes of finding a better life in Europe. However, their journey was interrupted by the Greek coast guard who pushed them back into Turkish waters. According to the Turkish authorities, this is not an isolated case and Greek authorities have routinely been intercepting and forcibly returning migrants to Turkey.
The rescued migrants were taken to a nearby hospital for medical checks before they were handed over to the local migration department. They will be further interrogated to understand why they chose to undertake such a journey.
The Turkish government has always been an advocate for migrants’ rights and has been providing safe passage and assistance to migrants seeking refuge from Syria and other neighboring countries. However, the recent increase in regular and irregular migration has put a strain on the country’s resources and security agencies. Turkey has repeatedly warned its European counterparts about the issue but has yet to see a meaningful response.
The plight of irregular migrants crossing the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas is a disturbing trend that must be addressed by the international community. There is an urgent need for a more coordinated and humane approach to the migration crisis. Turkey calls on the EU and its member states to work together with countries like Turkey to find long-term solutions to this pressing issue.
