Turkish Coast Guard detains over 110 migrants, including children

On October 18, the Turkish Coast Guard detained a total of 116 migrants, including children, along the western coast of Türkiye.

According to a statement from the Coast Guard Command under the Turkish Ministry of Interior, the first incident occurred at 3:45 AM in the Ayvacık area of Çanakkale, where a group of 40 refugees, including 18 children, was rescued from a rubber boat, Caliber.Az reports, citing local media.

Just two hours later, another similar incident took place off the coast of Foça in İzmir, resulting in the detention of 27 individuals, including two children.

Later that day, at 4:07 PM, a rubber boat carrying 49 migrants, among them 14 children, was intercepted off the coast of Karaburun in İzmir.

Notably, Türkiye is strategically located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, making it a key transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe. The Aegean Sea, in particular, has seen a surge in crossings from Türkiye to Greek islands.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of migrants and refugees attempting to cross from Türkiye to Europe, particularly due to ongoing conflicts in countries such as Syria, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Economic instability and political unrest in these regions drive many to seek asylum or better opportunities in Europe.

Türkiye has collaborated with the European Union to address migration flows, particularly through the 2016 EU-Türkiye agreement. This deal aimed to curb irregular migration to Europe by offering financial assistance to Türkiye in exchange for enhanced border controls and the repatriation of migrants who had crossed into Greece. 

By Khagan Isayev