Greece fortifies border with Turkey
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Greece has reinforced its land and sea border controls with Turkey in light of expectations of a new wave of migrants as a result of the earthquake that hit both Syria and Turkey.
At dawn on Feb. 6, a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit northwestern Syria and southern Turkey, killing about 50.000 individuals and injuring much more. The earthquake also caused immense destruction of buildings, trapping thousands under the rubble.
Hundreds of extra border guards began patrolling the Greek-Turkish land frontier in the Evros region at the weekend as contingency measures were stepped up to stave off the expected flows, The Guardian reported.
The patrols were dispatched as Greece’s Minister of Migration, Notis Mitarachi, called for the enhanced protection of the frontiers with increased surveillance infrastructure and additional fences.
“The mass movement of millions of people is not a solution,” said Greece’s Minister of Migration, Notis Mitarachi, emphasizing the need for emergency aid to be sent to Turkey and Syria “before this happens”.
It is expected that some of the homeless by the Feb. 6 earthquake will start heading towards Europe in the spring if humanitarian assistance does not arrive.
However, despite fortifying patrols, great numbers of refugees are risking life and limb by circumventing the Greek isles to travel in vastly overcrowded boats from Turkey to Italy.
On Sunday, a wooden boat crowded with migrants smashed into rocky reefs and broke apart off the Italian coast. Rescuers recovered nearly 60 bodies, and dozens more people were missing in the rough waters.