Greece expels more migrants to Turkey
DIKILI: Greece has deported a second batch of more than 100 migrants to Turkey under a controversial deal to stem mass migration as Germany announced a sharp drop in asylum claims.
Police sources said a first boat left the Greek island of Lesbos yesterday carrying 45 Pakistani men, while a second carried 79 migrants, also mainly Pakistanis, back across the Aegean Sea where hundreds have died trying to reach Europe.
A small group of activists leapt into the water, clutching onto the anchor of the first ferry in an unsuccessful bid to stop a deportation effort which rights groups have harshly criticised.
Some 30 protesters also gathered at Lesbos’ port, chanting “Stop deportations”, “EU, shame on you” and “Freedom for the refugees”.
Hours later, the boats reached the Turkish harbour town of Dikili where the downcast migrants, clutching blankets and with small backpacks on their shoulders, were escorted off the vessels by security officials.
Meanwhile, several European foreign ministers headed to Greece and Turkey yesterday to discuss the latest developments in the migrant crisis, Dutch officials said.
The deportations are taking place under a deal between Turkey and the European Union, which is straining under the pressure from the unprecedented flow of migrants into its territory.
Turkey is a main launching pad for migrants fleeing war and poverty in North Africa and the Middle East for a better life in Europe.
Turkey has promised to take back all irregular migrants landing on the Greek islands since March 20 – a figure which currently stands at about 6,000 – while Europe has agreed to resettle one Syrian refugee directly from camps in Turkey for each Syrian deported.
The threat of deportation is aimed at discouraging people from making the often deadly crossing in flimsy boats.
The transfers began last Monday with some 200 migrants returned to Turkey, but stalled after a last-minute flurry of asylum applications by those desperate to avoid expulsion.
Human rights watchdogs say the scheme is badly flawed and are concerned that migrants may not have the chance to apply for asylum before being deported.—