Faruk Zorlu
02 September 2019•Update: 02 September 2019
ANKARA
At least 5,885 irregular migrants were held across Turkey over the past week, according to data compiled by Anadolu Agency from security sources.
A total of 3,452 migrants were held in multiple operations carried out by gendarmerie forces in the northwestern Edirne province, bordering Greece and Bulgaria.
According to local security forces in Edirne, Greece has recently stepped up efforts to send irregular migrants to Turkey in violation of the Geneva Conventions, European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Convention Against Torture.
In the coastal provinces of Canakkale, Balikesir, Aydin, Izmir and Mugla, the Turkish Coast Guard and gendarmerie forces rounded up a total of 2,050 migrants as they were trying to cross to Europe through Greece.
Turkey has been a key transit point for irregular migrants aiming to cross to Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.
Separately, in the northwestern provinces of Kirklareli and Tekirdag, a total of 101 migrants were held by gendarmerie forces.
Moreover, border forces and police in the southern Hatay province caught 160 migrants for reportedly entering Turkey from Syria through illegal means.
In eastern Erzincan province, provincial gendarmerie forces detained 86 irregular migrants, who entered Turkey illegally.
Additionally, some 28 irregular migrants were also held by police in the central province of Nigde, while in the eastern province of Kars a total of 49 migrants were held by police over the past week.
The migrants included Pakistani, Congolese, Syrian, Iraqi, Afghan, Tunisian, Kuwaiti, Moroccan, Turkmenistani, Egyptian, Bangladeshi, Indian, Algerian, Somali, Ghanian, Yemeni, Palestinian, Eritrean and Nigerian nationals.
All of the migrants held during the week were either taken to hospitals for medical care or transferred to provincial migration offices.
In 2018, some 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey, according to the Interior Ministry. Turkey has been a key transit point for irregular migrants aiming to cross to Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.
