Turkey: 147 Thousand Refugees Crossed into Greece in 19 Days

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Since Turkey announced on February 28 that it would no longer try to stop migration to Europe, 147,132 refugees have crossed into Greece, the governor of the northwestern border province of Edirne has announced.

Three refugees were killed and 214 others were wounded as a result of the response by the police force of Greece while crossings continue, the governor's office stated. Greece used tear gas, smoke and stun grenades, rubber bullets and live rounds to stop refugees, it said.

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"During this period, 7,096 refugees applied to the hospital and received medical help as 1,581 children were vaccinated against measles and polio and 44 pregnant women were vaccinated against tetanus," the governor's office further stated, adding that the refugees are being provided with food, clothing and healthcare.

It also noted that applications have been made to the European Court of Human Rights for the three killed and one injured refugees.

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The security forces of Greece have increased measures against refugees, placing concrete blocks in the buffer zone and digging trenches in the Kastanies area. Greece also set up barbed wire on the border and deployed police officers with automatic rifles.

As the border is closed, refugees have been trying to cross the Evros (Maritsa, Meriç) river, which forms the border between the two countries, two enter Greece.

Under a 2016 deal with the European Union, Turkey has worked to stop crossings by the sea in exchange for monetary help by the EU to refugees in Turkey. 

Following an airstrike on its troops in Syria on February 27, Ankara announced that it would no longer try to stop migration.

One child killed in Moria camp fire

A 6-year-old child yesterday (March 16) died in a fire at a refugee camp on the Aegean island of Lesbos under unknown circumstances.

The child, whose gender was not identified, was found at the Moria Reception and Identification Center on the island, which is near Turkey's coast and is known as Midilli in Turkish, the local fire department said in a tweet. There were 13 firefighters and five firefighting vehicles in the area, it added.

A refugee named Aziz from Afghanistan who lives in the Moria refugee camp told the Guardian of the panic as the fire broke out. "I wasn't in the camp at the time but my family lives in a container near where the fire was. When I heard that there was a big fire, I tried to go back into the camp but there were a lot of people trying to get out," he said. "I was so shocked and I was just looking for my family. I went and saw a big fire and flames. Lots of people were in shock, lots were crying and everyone had their backpacks and were trying to leave and to get away from the fire.

Firefighters were having trouble controlling the fire due to the strong winds blowing on the island, local media reported, while overcrowding at the facility made their efforts to reach the spot harder.

The Moria camp currently hosts more than 19 thousand migrants in a camp built to accommodate fewer than 3 thousand. (PT/VK)