World News | Greece Says It's Stopped Boats Carrying over 120 Migrants
Get latest articles and stories on World at LatestLY. Greece's coast guard said Friday it has prevented five boats carrying more than 120 people in total from illegally entering Greek waters in the eastern Aegean Sea from Turkey.
Athens, Mar 4 (AP) Greece's coast guard said Friday it has prevented five boats carrying more than 120 people in total from illegally entering Greek waters in the eastern Aegean Sea from Turkey.
A coast guard statement said patrol boats from the European Union's Frontex border agency helped in the operation, and none of the migrant boats were allowed to reach Greek waters.
Also Read | India Urges Ukraine, Russia to Announce Ceasefire for Evacuation of Indian Nationals.
It said Turkish coast guard boats eventually arrived at the scene, off the island of Kos, and picked up the migrants.
Greece's eastern Aegean islands are a major destination for people fleeing conflict or poverty in the Middle East, Africa or Asia who are seeking a better life in the EU. About a million made the crossing during Europe's migration crisis in 2015.
Also Read | NATO Rules Out Policing No-Fly Zone Over War-Hit Ukraine.
Under a 2016 agreement with the EU, Turkey — Greece's historic regional rival — has committed to limit the flows of migrants trying to reach Greek shores. Nevertheless, thousands of people still risk the often dangerous crossing every year, using small unseaworthy boats provided by smuggling rings. Fatal accidents are frequent.
Stronger deterrence by the Greek coast guard and Frontex have substantially reduced the numbers reaching Greece. Nevertheless, Turkish officials and human rights groups have accused Greece of engaging in illegal returns of people who have succeeded in entering its waters or territory. Athens denies the accusations.
Rights groups also accuse Greece of breaching migrants' rights by not allowing them to enter. Both Greece and Turkey have substantial populations of refugees and migrants. (AP)
(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)