EU-Turkey deal fails to stem refugee flight to Greece

Refugee boats continued to arrive in Greece in the eastern Mediterranean, despite a recent deal between the EU and Turkey – whereby refugees will be deported back to Turkey – coming into effect. At least five boats, carrying more than 30 refugees each, arrived from Turkey between Saturday midnight – when the agreement came into […]

Refugee boats continued to arrive in Greece in the eastern Mediterranean, despite a recent deal between the EU and Turkey – whereby refugees will be deported back to Turkey – coming into effect.
At least five boats, carrying more than 30 refugees each, arrived from Turkey between Saturday midnight – when the agreement came into force – and Sunday morning. The majority of the refugees who arrived were from Syria.
Under the deal struck on Saturday, for every Syrian returned, the EU will resettle one from a Turkish refugee camp. But people who managed to reach Europe’s shores were hopeful they would not be turned back. The EU-Turkey deal aims to strangle the main route used by refugees travelling to the EU and discourage people smugglers, but it has faced criticism from rights groups and thousands took to the streets of Europe in protest.