Turkey rescues 78 migrants from boats off Aegean coast

İZMİR - Anadolu Agency

A total of 78 irregular migrants were rescued off Turkey's Aegean coast, state-run Anadolu Agency said on March 4.

Coast Guard teams launched an operation and rescued 40 Afghan migrants who were in a rubber boat which had been directed to Turkish territorial waters by the Greek Coast Guard.

Separately, the Coast Guard rescued 93 irregular migrants from two boats in the Aegean Sea, off Turkey's southwestern coast, according to Anadolu Agency.

Greek Coast Guard forces allegedly pushed the boats carrying 74 Afghan and 19 Syrian irregular migrants, including 28 children and 10 women, back to Turkey. They were rescued off the coast of Aydin province.

Blaming the EU for failing to keep its promises to help irregular migrants, Turkey recently loosened its policy on irregular migration, allowing migrants to seek entrance into Europe.

Turkey has been a key transit point for irregular migrants aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and
persecution.

Turkey currently hosts over 3.7 million Syrian refugees, making it the world's top refugee-hosting country.