Greek authorities prevent over 15,000 migrants from crossing Turkey-Greece border – Where is the United Nations?

·

Thousands of migrants and refugees massed at Turkey’s western frontier Sunday, trying to enter Greece by land and sea after Turkey said its borders were open to those hoping to head to Europe.

By the time Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan officially announced the borders were open Saturday, Greek authorities had been playing a cat-and-mouse game with migrants attempting to break through the frontier. They fired tear gas and stun grenades to thwart efforts to push through the border by groups of migrants hurling rocks and pieces of wood.

Greece said about 10,000 attempts to cross through its land border had been thwarted on Saturday, and another 5,500 between Sunday morning and evening. Most of those gathered on the border were young Afghan men, although there were also families with young children and people from other countries.

Hundreds of others took advantage of good weather to make the short but often perilous sea crossing from the Turkish coast to offshore Greek islands. There, most were from Afghanistan and Africa.

Migrants use an inflatable boat as they attempt to enter Greece from Turkey by crossing the Maritsa river (Evros river in Greek) near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey, Sunday, March. 1, 2020. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

Island residents are already angered by government plans to build new migrant detention centers there to ease severe overcrowding in the existing facilities.

On the island of Lesbos, some residents prevented new arrivals, who included families with young children and babies, from disembarking from a dinghy that arrived in a small harbour. Others blocked the road to the island’s main migrant camp, preventing buses from picking up groups who had arrived in other parts of the island.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis convened the defense and foreign affairs committee Sunday evening. Afterward, a government spokesman said Greece was starting a one-month freeze on accepting asylum applications from migrants who enter illegally.

Read More: Turkey moves ahead with threats to send refugees to Greece

Europe’s border agency Frontex said it was “redeploying equipment and additional officers to Greece.”

A Greek government official said the Turkish authorities also fired teargas at the Greek border, using drones flying close to the border. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to discuss the matter with the media.

Stavros Zamalides, the president of the Greek border community of Kastanies, said Turkish soldiers used wire cutters to actively help people cross.

Migrants gather between Pazarkule border gate, Edirne, Turkey, and Kastanies border gate, Evros, as they try to enter Greece, on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)

The UN’s International Organization for Migration said Sunday that by the previous evening, its staff working along the land border “had observed at least 13,000 people gathered at the formal border crossing points at Pazarkule and Ipsala and multiple informal border crossings, in groups of between several dozen and more than 3,000.”

More than 19,300 people already live in and around island’s migrant camp, which has a capacity of 2,840. Protests by island residents last week over the situation degenerated into clashes with riot police on Lesbos and Chios.

Greece said it was using “all available means” to tell migrants that the country’s borders were closed, including text messages to foreign mobile phones in the border area.

Sourced by: Associated Press

greek film festival sydney new

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

‘Compassion, community and purpose’ define the 2025 Jenny Souris Foundation Gala

The Jenny Souris Foundation Gala returned on Wednesday, 15 October 2025, with heart and purpose, drawing around 300 guests.

Thousands attend inaugural Brunswick Greek Festival

Thousands of people attended the Brunswick Greek Festival which was organised and run by the St Eleftherios Albion Street Brunswick parish.

St John’s church in Carlton hosts annual celebration for Patron Saint of police officers

The annual celebration of Saint Artemios’ feast day is one of the key events on the Victoria Hellenic Police Association (VHPA) calendar.

Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Ioannis Loverdos strengthens ties in Adelaide visit

Greece's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Greeks Abroad, Ioannis Loverdos, is visiting Adelaide, South Australia.

Ex-Collingwood captain sues former manager Jason Sourasis for $3 million

Former Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury has filed a $3 million lawsuit against his former manager and long-time friend Jason Sourasis.

You May Also Like

Food for Thought Network unveils poignant video against gender-based violence

The Food for Thought Network Inc has announced the success of its recent inaugural Global Women and Hellenism conference held in Greece. 

Reflecting on 100 years of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese in Australia

Greek Orthodoxy for Greeks is not just a religion. It's consubstantial with their national existence and completes their identity.

Maria Sakkari storms past no.1 seed into Abu Dhabi semi-finals

Maria Sakkari is through to the semi finals of the Abu Dhabi WTA Women's Tennis Open after defeating no-1 seed, Sofia Kenin.