Turkish coast guard rescues 113 irregular migrants pushed back by Greek authorities
The Turkish Coast Guard has rescued 113 irregular migrants who were pushed back by Greek authorities in Turkish territorial waters off the western provinces of Izmir and Mugla.
The asylum seekers were rescued from rubber boats and referred to the provincial migration office.
The Turkish Coast Guard reported that the Greek Coast Guard had pushed the boat carrying the migrants back to Turkish territorial waters.
Türkiye has historically been a destination, origin, and transit country for migrants and refugees, with recent regional events leading to a significant increase in those seeking refuge from conflict, poverty, and disasters.
The country is currently hosting over 4 million refugees and asylum-seekers, including over 3.7 million Syrians and over 330,000 individuals of other nationalities seeking international protection status.
According to official reports, the Turkish coast guard intercepted over 285,000 irregular migrants in 2022, an increase from 162,000 in the previous year. (ILKHA)