Türkiye deports 483 Afghan migrants

IGDIR, Türkiye

A total of 483 Afghan migrants, who entered Türkiye illegally, were deported, an official said Thursday.

As part of the work carried out according to the Irregular Migration Strategy Document and the National Action Plan, migrants, who do not have valid documents to reside legally in Türkiye, are being sent to their home countries by charter flights.

After going through all necessary procedures, including health checks and security-related steps, the migrants were deported to the Afghan capital Kabul, said the official on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media.

The total number of migrants who were deported by Turkish authorities from the country’s eastern province of Igdir via flights has almost reached 4.4 million since the beginning of 2022.

Türkiye has been a key transit point for asylum seekers who want to cross to Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

Türkiye, which already hosts 4 million refugees – more than any country in the world – is taking new security measures both within and on borders to prevent a fresh influx of migrants.

*Writing by Merve Berker