Pictures show migrants crossing into EU after Turkey relaxes border controls

Victoria Bell
Updated ·3-min read

Thousands of migrants and refugees from Turkey are attempting to enter Greece after Ankara announced it could no longer enforce a 2016 deal with the EU to prevent migrants entering Europe.

Turkey has said it will not prevent migrants on its territory from reaching Europe, triggering an almost instant rush to the borders it shares with European Union member Greece after the Syrian conflict escalated.

Turkey can no longer enforce a 2016 deal with the EU to prevent migrants entering Europe. (Reuters)
Turkey can no longer enforce a 2016 deal with the EU to prevent migrants entering Europe. (Reuters)

Read more: Turkey shoots down two Syria warplanes in escalating offensive

The International Organisation for Migration put the number of people along the Greece-Turkey border at 13,000.

A young boy died when a boat capsized off the Greek island of Lesbos on Monday, Greek police said, the first reported fatality since Turkey opened its borders last week.

EDIRNE, TURKEY - MARCH 02: A man holds a banner as irregular migrants continue to gather at the Pazarkule Border Gate in Karaagac neighbourhood in Edirne, Turkey to reach Greece on March 02, 2020. The number of irregular migrants leaving Turkey for Europe has reached 117,677 on Monday, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Twitter. The migrants are leaving Turkey through northwestern Edirne province bordering Greece and Bulgaria. Thousands of migrants flocked to Edirne's Pazarkule border crossing to Greece after Turkish officials announced Friday they would no longer try to stop irregular migrants from reaching Europe. (Photo by Gokhan Balci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
A man holds a banner as thousands of migrants continue to gather at the Pazarkule Border Gate in Karaagac neighbourhood in Edirne, Turkey to reach Greece. (Getty)
EDIRNE, TURKEY - MARCH 02: Silhouettes of irregular migrants are seen as they continue to wait near the border gate in Edirne, Turkey to reach Greece on March 02, 2020. The number of irregular migrants leaving Turkey for Europe has reached 117,677 on Monday, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Twitter. The migrants are leaving Turkey through northwestern Edirne province bordering Greece and Bulgaria. Thousands of migrants flocked to Edirne's Pazarkule border crossing to Greece after Turkish officials announced Friday they would no longer try to stop irregular migrants from reaching Europe. (Photo by Arif Hudaverdi Yaman/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
Silhouettes of irregular migrants are seen as they continue to wait near the border gate in Edirne, Turkey to reach Greece on Monday. (Getty)
EDIRNE, TURKEY - MARCH 02: An irregular migrant child wakes up beside a sleeping child as they continue to flock at the Pazarkule Border Gate in Karaagac neighbourhood in Edirne, Turkey to reach Greece on March 02, 2020. The number of irregular migrants leaving Turkey for Europe has reached 117,677 on Monday, Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Twitter. The migrants are leaving Turkey through northwestern Edirne province bordering Greece and Bulgaria. Thousands of migrants flocked to Edirne's Pazarkule border crossing to Greece after Turkish officials announced Friday they would no longer try to stop irregular migrants from reaching Europe (Photo by Gokhan Balci/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
A child wakes up beside another sleeping child at the Pazarkule Border Gate in Karaagac neighbourhood in Edirne, Turkey. (Getty)

Nearly a million Syrians have fled to the Syrian-Turkish border since December, amid heavy fighting in the Idlib region between Turkish-backed rebels and Syrian government forces.

Turkey has an estimated 3.7 million Syrian refugees, as well as migrants from other countries – but previously stopped them from entering Europe.

Read more: Migrants head to Greece as Turkey opens the doors

The deal was proposed as a solution to the migrant crisis in 2015 where almost one million refugees and migrants arrived in the EU.

Hundreds of thousands of people fled to escape the wars in Syria and Afghanistan.

Migrants sleep on a field near Edirne, at the Turkish-Greek border on Monday, March 2, 2020. Thousands of migrants on Monday tried to find a way across the land border into Greece, which has made clear its borders will remain closed. Dozens managed to pass, either through border fences or across the river there. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Migrants sleep on a field near Edirne, at the Turkish-Greek border on Monday. (AP)
Migrants receive food as they gather in a field near Edirne, at the Turkish-Greek border on Monday, March 2, 2020. Thousands of migrants on Monday tried to find a way across the land border into Greece, which has made clear its borders will remain closed. Dozens managed to pass, either through border fences or across the river there. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
Migrants receive food as they gather in a field near Edirne. (AP)

On Monday, a senior Turkish official told the Reuters news agency: “We have decided, effectively immediately, not to stop Syrian refugees from reaching Europe by land or sea.

Read more: Turkey’s borders with Europe open as migrants gather, says president

"All refugees, including Syrians, are now welcome to cross into the European Union."

The prospect of a new migration crisis caused alarm in European countries already contemplating restrictions on internal borders and public gatherings to fight the coronavirus.

A migrants throws a tear gas at Greek police during clashes at the Turkish-Greek border near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey on Monday, March 2, 2020.Thousands of migrants and refugees massed at Turkey's western frontier, trying to enter Greece by land and sea after Turkey said its borders were open to those hoping to head to Europe. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Tear gas is being used during clashes at the Turkish-Greek border near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey to stop migrants from entering Greece. (AP)
Greek police fires tear gas at migrants who trying to enter Greece during clashes at the Turkish-Greek border near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey on Monday, March 2, 2020.Thousands of migrants and refugees massed at Turkey's western frontier, trying to enter Greece by land and sea after Turkey said its borders were open to those hoping to head to Europe. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)
Greek police fire tear gas at migrants who trying to enter Greece.Thousands of migrants and refugees massed at Turkey's western frontier, trying to enter Greece by land and sea. (AP)
A migrant who is trying to enter Greece from the Pazarkule border gate, Edirne, Turkey, reacts as Greek riot police guard the border gate in Kastanies village, Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. Refugees and migrants massed on the Turkish-Greek land border played a cat-and-mouse game with Greek authorities through the night and into Saturday, with border patrols using tear gas and stun grenades to stop efforts by groups of people to cross into Greece. (AP Photo/Emrah Gurel)
A migrant reacts as Greek riot police guard the border gate in Kastanies village on Saturday, Feb. 29, 2020. (AP)

Greece, a European Union member state neighbouring Turkey, vowed not to admit the migrants and responded to the incoming refugees at its border.

Greek police fired tear gas toward migrants who were gathered on its border with Turkey and demanding entry on Saturday.

In addition to some 3.7 million Syrian refugees, Turkey also hosts migrants from Afghanistan, Iran and Morocco, among others.

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