Greece begins sending migrants back to Turkey in one in, one out deal

The first boats have left Greece carrying migrants to Turkey as part of an EU deal to deport those who have failed to gain asylum. Ships carrying up to 200 migrants and refugees - more than 130 from Lesbos and over 60 from Chios - set off across the Aegean Sea from the islands earlier. The first boat arrived shortly afterwards at Dikili on the Turkish coast. Europe’s leaders are hoping the controversial plan of collective deportations from Greece will alleviate the migrant crisis affecting the continent.

All of the migrants returned are from Pakistan except for two migrants from Syria who returned voluntarily.

Giorgos Kyritsis, a spokesman for a government refugee crisis committee

Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala said they had made provision to receive 500 people on the first day, but the Greeks had only provided the names of 400. Although the first migrants to be sent back are from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran, Syrians who have illegally crossed will also be expelled under the deal if they have arrived since 20 March. In Izmir, migrants are still arriving in the city hoping to connect with the smugglers and get to Europe. Human rights groups argue the collective deportations break international law and mark a dark time in Europe’s history.

Greece Turkey