On Monday, August 5, 2024, the Turkish Coast Guard rescued 59 irregular migrants in the Aegean Sea, including 23 who had been pushed back by Greek authorities. The rescue operation took place off the coast of Karaburun in western Izmir province.
The migrants were discovered drifting on a rubber boat that had been forcibly pushed into Turkish territorial waters by Greece. Among the 23 rescued migrants, there were 10 children. The Turkish Coast Guard also saved a separate group of 36 irregular migrants, including 12 children, whose boat’s engine had failed near Izmir’s Dikili district.
The rescued migrants have been transferred to the provincial migration directorate for processing. This latest operation highlights ongoing tensions and issues surrounding migrant routes between Turkey and Greece.
Greece, a major gateway into the European Union for migrants from the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, has faced accusations of engaging in illegal “pushbacks” at its sea and land borders. This practice involves forcibly returning migrants to dangerous conditions without allowing them to apply for asylum.
Turkey has long been a key transit point for migrants seeking to enter Europe, particularly since the onset of the Syrian civil war in 2011. Each year, thousands of migrants undertake dangerous journeys by land or sea, often facilitated by smugglers who abandon them once they have collected their fees. Turkish authorities frequently intercept and rescue these individuals before they reach the European border.
Between 2010 and 2023, Turkey rescued 184,175 irregular migrants from its waters. During this period, 923 migrants lost their lives on perilous journeys, and 503 individuals remain unaccounted for after their boats sank.
Last month, Turkish authorities recovered the bodies of seven migrants and rescued 18 others from a sunken boat in the Aegean Sea. This boat, which had been pushed back by Greek security forces, sank with 27 people on board.
The migration route through the Aegean Sea, particularly across the shallow waters of the Maritsa (known as Meriç in Turkish), continues to be hazardous. Greece is currently building a fence along this border to curb illegal crossings.
According to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, 3,168 people have attempted the route from Turkey to Greece as of July 14, 2024. Despite Greece’s claims of saving many migrants, human rights organizations and migrant charities accuse Greek authorities of mistreating migrants and blocking their access to asylum procedures.
The Turkish Coast Guard remains a critical player in addressing the challenges of the migration crisis in the region, working to rescue migrants and manage the complex issues surrounding irregular migration.