Over 45 undocumented migrants detained in Turkey

ÇANAKKALE - Anadolu Agency

At least 47 undocumented migrants were detained in western Turkey, security sources said on June 21.

The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said the migrants, including women and children, on an inflatable boat were rounded up off the Ayvacık district of Çanakkale province.

The migrants, Afghan, Eritrean, Syrian and Nepalese nationals, were attempting to cross into Greece’s Lesbos Island, the sources added.

All the migrants were later referred to the provincial migration authorities.

Earlier this week, 242 undocumented migrants were detained across the country.

A total of 160 undocumented migrants were apprehended in the Aegean Sea off the coast of the Dikili, Çeşme, Seferihisar districts of İzmir province on June 20.

Separately, in northwestern Edirne province’s Uzunköprü district, and in three towns as well, 60 undocumented migrants were detained, according to the gendarmerie.

The migrants came from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Eritrea and Libya. 

Turkey has been a main route for refugees trying to cross into Europe, especially since 2011, the beginning of Syria’s civil war.

Among migrants detained in 2017 in Turkey, the majority came from Pakistan — around 15,000 — followed by Afghans at around 12,000. Syrians totaled about 10,000.

There has been a 60 percent increase in migrant flow since 2016. The number was 31,000 in 2016.

The Development Initiative’s (DI) Global Humanitarian Assistance Report, published on June 19, stated that Turkey was the most charitable nation in 2017, with nearly $8.1 billion spent in humanitarian aid.

Nearly 30 percent of all international humanitarian aid—$27.3 billion—came from Turkey, the report stated.

Turkey had been ranked third in the Development Initiative’s report for the years 2013, 2014 and 2015, and second in the list after the U.S. in 2016, with $6.3 billion spent in aid.