‘Refugees at Turkey-Greece Border Being Sent to İstanbul Esenler Bus Terminal’

* Photo: İslam Yakut / AA

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Waiting at the Pazarkule Border Gate in Edirne province to cross into Greece after Turkey announced that it would no longer stop refugees trying to leave the country for Europe, refugees are now being sent to other cities in busses as Pazarkule has been closed due to coronavirus outbreak.

Speaking to bianet about the issue, Meral Candan from Migrant Solidarity Network has underlined that refugees are vulnerable to the virus and called on the authorities to take measures as soon as possible.

There are also refugees waiting at İstanbul Esenler Bus Terminal to come to Edirne, according to Candan, who has added that refugees have been stranded there as several others arrived in the terminal from Pazarkule.

Indicating that tickets could be bought for these people thanks to İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality and NGOs, Candan has briefly said:

"People waiting for news from Edirne or having no place to go because they have no money were waiting in Esenler Bus Terminal. İstanbul Metropolitan Municipality and NGOs bought tickets for the refugees staying in Esenler Bus Terminal so that they could go wherever they wanted to go.

"But, now, Edirne Pazarkule Border Gate is being closed and the refugees there are being sent to different parts of Turkey. A group of refugees were left in Esenler Bus Terminal yesterday evening.

"And, I think, the refugees staying in Edirne will continue to be sent from there in following days. But as people closed their homes and left their jobs before heading for Pazarkule, they just get stranded here. There are families. New busses might arrive as of tonight, the number of people might increase.

"Refugees need both a place to stay and everyone has now unfortunately focused on the virus. People are said to stay home, but refugees do not even undergo a health scanning.

"Refugees must have access to free healthcare. And are they conscious of coronavirus enough? It is also doubtful. Because they had been in Pazarkule for a long time and their access to the Internet was very limited. An action must be taken as soon as possible, refugees staying on the streets must undergo a medical screening, they should be placed in houses."

According to a daily brief shared by gocmendayanisma.com on March 17, all cafes in Karaağaç village in Edirne near the border were closed, around 300 special operation forces came to the site and informed the refugees that the authorities will evacuate the area. (HA/SD)