On Wednesday, Greek border guards prevented about 1,500 migrants from entering Greece within a day from Turkey via the border river Evros. This was said by the Minister for Civil Protection, Takis Theodorikakos, on Thursday. “I want to make it clear: it is an organized plan by Turkey.”
In numerous cases, vehicles belonging to Turkish security forces took people to the Turkish side of the border river, as migrants reported after their arrival. In a recent speech at the United Nations (UN), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan again accused Athens of illegally pushing migrants back to Turkey (pushbacks). Greece, on the other hand, calls Ankara’s tactics “pushforward”: Turkish authorities would give the migrants the choice of going back to Syria or entering Greece illegally.
Border fence has been extended
Due to the increased number of migrants on the Evros, Greece wants to close the border in the northeast of the country almost completely. The existing 35 km border fence is currently being extended by 80 km. Bulgaria has also fenced off large parts of its border with Turkey.
Strict Border Protection
In general, Athens relies on strict border protection, both on land and at sea. Nevertheless, more than 10,000 people have managed to enter Greece since the beginning of the year and until September 18, according to the UN refugee agency.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
