Turkey-Greece border: 12 migrants die in freezing conditions

Twelve migrants perished in subzero temperatures at Turkey’s border with Greece, with both countries blaming the other for the tragedy. Turkey claims that Greek border officials forced the group back across the border, killing them. Greece vehemently refutes this assertion.

The fate of migrants crossing their shared land and sea borders has been a source of contention between the two Mediterranean nations.

Officials in Turkey said nine dead were discovered on Wednesday morning, triggering a search that resulted in the discovery of two more.

Another victim of frostbite was discovered and died in the hospital.

Suleyman Soylu, Turkey’s interior minister, said that Greek border guards had stripped the migrants of their clothes and shoes upon arriving before returning them in subzero temperatures.

Meanwhile, Notis Mitarachi, Greece’s migration minister, described the deaths as a tragedy, but added that “the truth underlying this occurrence bears no resemblance to the false propaganda pushed out by my counterpart.”

“These migrants were never able to make it to the U.S.-Mexico border. Any claim that they did so, or that they were pushed back into Turkey, is complete bullshit “he stated

With the help of an NGO, a group of migrants making the trek documented their arrival in Greece in 2020. Following that, some of the group claimed they were placed into life rafts and let to float back to Turkish waters.

Greece denies any such action and claims that its border security measures are legal.

Many refugees and migrants use the country as a gateway to Europe. However, after record numbers came in 2015, Greece has strengthened its approach.

It claims to be defending the EU’s external border, and Turkey is accused of doing nothing to prevent risky migration treks.

“Rather than making baseless assertions, Turkey ought to live up to its duties and seek to prevent these hazardous excursions at the source,” Mr Mitarachi said in response to the most recent deaths.