Greece secures border as
migrants leave Turkey
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| Refugees and migrants gather at the Turkish - Greek land border (ANSA) |
Pope Francis asked for prayers on Sunday for scores of
migrants and refugees, previously sheltered in Turkey, who are heading towards
Europe. The exodus comes as the Greek government raises its border security levels
and the migrants attempt to access the EU after Ankara's decision to relax
restrictions.
By Nathan Morley
A Turkish news agency cited a government minister as saying
76,300 irregular migrants left Turkey and headed toward Europe as of Sunday
morning.
Most are thought to be from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and
Palestine.
When Turkish officials announced they would no longer try
block irregular migrants from reaching Europe, thousands of migrants flocked to
Pazarkule, a border crossing with Greece.
The European border force Frontex on 'high alert' and has
positioned officers along the Greece-Turkey border and on the Greek islands.
Turkey is currently home to over 3.5 million migrants from
Syria, more than any other country. Ankara has repeatedly complained that
Brussels has failed to keep its promises under the 2016 EU-Turkey refugee deal
designed to help migrants and stem further migrant waves into Europe.
In a separate development, the Turkish Air Force shot down
two Syrian jets in Idlib on Sunday, as clashes between the two countries
escalated.
The pilots ejected safely, according to the Syrian state
news agency.
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