Image Credits - Daily Sabah
The Turkish Coast Guard Command announced early Friday that it had rescued dozens of irregular migrants who were reportedly pushed back by Greek forces in the Aegean Sea, reflecting ongoing strained relations between Turkey and Greece regarding migration concerns.
According to a statement from the Coast Guard, 16 migrants were found drifting on two rubber boats after being forced back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek authorities off the shores of Dikili and Çeşme districts in Izmir province. In addition, 52 other migrants, including 16 children, were intercepted while attempting to cross the Aegean Sea to Greece in rubber boats from the same region.
In a separate incident, 30 migrants, including four children, were discovered on two life rafts that had also been pushed back by Greek forces toward the coast of Muğla’s Datça and Marmaris districts. The Turkish Coast Guard further reported that 20 migrants were found on the Marmaris coast, preparing to set out on another perilous journey by boat.
All the rescued migrants were handed over to the provincial migration directorate for processing and assistance, the Coast Guard confirmed.
The practice of “pushbacks,” where migrants are forcibly returned to the country they are attempting to leave without being allowed to seek asylum, has been a contentious issue between Turkey and Greece. Human rights organizations and migrant charities have accused Greece of routinely engaging in illegal pushbacks at its sea and land borders, an accusation Greece has vehemently denied. The Greek authorities have responded by asserting that their border forces have rescued hundreds of thousands of migrants from perilous crossings.
The Aegean Sea remains a critical and perilous route for migrants, many of whom are fleeing conflict or economic hardship in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, with hopes of reaching Europe. Since the Syrian civil war began in 2011, Turkey has become a key transit point for irregular migrants aiming to enter the European Union.
Turkish authorities have reported rescuing 184,175 irregular migrants from the sea between 2010 and 2023. However, the dangers of these crossings are starkly evident, with 923 migrants reported dead and 503 missing in the same period due to boat sinkings.
In a particularly tragic incident last month, Turkish authorities recovered the bodies of seven migrants. They rescued 18 others in the Aegean Sea after their boat, allegedly pushed back by Greek forces, struck rocks and sank. The vessel was transporting 27 individuals.
Despite efforts by both countries to manage and control migration flows, the issue continues to strain relations, with the Turkish Coast Guard repeatedly accusing Greek forces of mistreating migrants. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that 3,168 people attempted the journey from Türkiye to Greece between January and mid-July this year.
As the migration crisis persists, the humanitarian concerns surrounding pushbacks and the treatment of migrants at the EU’s external borders remain under intense scrutiny.