Two migrants die on overcrowded boat as EU deal with Turkey gets under way
TWO migrants have been found dead on a boat that arrived on the Greek island of Lesbos on the first day of the implementation of an agreement between the EU and Turkey on handling new arrivals.
Medical personnel tried to revive the two men but failed.
The overcrowded boat was carrying dozens of migrants from Turkey. The migration agreement stipulates how new arrivals from Turkey will be processed and returned.
Meanwhile, about 2,500 migrants on Lesbos and other islands are being taken to mainland Greece where they are placed in shelters before EU-wide relocation. A government account put the number of arrivals across Greece in the past 24 hours at 875 people.
Under the EU deal with Turkey, all migrants and refugees, including Syrians, who cross to Greece illegally by sea from March 20 will be sent back to Turkey once they are registered and their asylum claims have been processed.
That is expected to take effect from April 4, by which time Greece must have in place a fast-track process for assessing asylum claims.
The EU has pledged to help Greece set up a task force of some 4,000 staff, including judges, interpreters, border guards and others to manage each ca se individually.In return, the EU will take in thousands of Syrian refugees directly from Turkey and reward it with more money, early visafree travel and progress in its EU membership negotiations.
Among the early morning arrival son the seaweed-strewn beach on the south of Lesbos was Syrian Hussein Ali Muhammad, whose studies were interrupted after the war began.
He said he wanted to go to Denmark to continue university.
Asked if he was aware of the European decision, he said: “I know that. I hope to cross these borders.
“I hope I complete my studies here [in Europe], just this. I don’t want money, I just want to complete my studies. This is my message.”
Doubts remain about whether the migration deal is legal or workable. It was not clear what would happen to the tens of thousands of migrants and refugees already in Greece.