The war in Ukraine has caused a new refugee crisis, adding to the already existing ones of migrants from Syria, Afghanistan or Africa trying to reach the European continent, often on makeshift boats, crossing the Aegean Sea via Turkey.
Greece accuses Ankara
On the front line, Greece, the gateway to Europe. This week, she accused Ankara of trying to send more than 1,000 migrants in three days to the Greek islands. Athens says it pushed back the migrant boats in time. For many NGOs, this is akin to pushbacks. An illegal practice denounced by Turkey.
Between the Turkish coasts and the Greek island of Samos, there are only a handful of kilometers scrutinized by the coastguards of the two countries. That night, Mohamed tried to reach Europe on a small zodiac with seven other Palestinians. But while she was in Greek territorial waters, their boat was turned back by a patrol.
“But where is humanity?”
“The Greeks hit us, they took our phones and all our money. They told us that we were monkeys, not humans. But where is humanity?” Laments the young man.
Other migrants were on board. Congolese families with children have also been intercepted by the Turkish authorities. Among them, Lala, in her thirties, was very afraid of dealing with the Greeks when the coast guard star arrived. “We were told that they put us in little rafts without motors and let you go,” she explains.
According to Ankara, nearly 9,000 migrants have been turned back by Greece since the beginning of the year.