In early February, 19 migrants froze to death in a Turkish town near the Turkey-Greece border after a winter storm. Initially, news sites reported 12 out of the 22 migrants died, but the number soon jumped to 19 after rescue groups searched the region where the bodies were found. The governor’s office in Edirne—a Turkish city—released a statement stating they were continuing to search within the area for more bodies as of two weeks ago.
Ipsala—the town in which the migrants were found frozen—is situated on the border between Greece and Turkey. The village of Ipsala is a known place migrants seeking entry into the European Union gather.
In response to the recent deaths, Turkey and Greece are pointing fingers at one another, both countries refusing to take the blame.
Migrants for years have been bringing up problematic behaviour that the Greek coast guards and border patrols exhibit. According to the migrants, the coast guards and border patrols push back migrants, including those at sea. The UNCHR (United Nations Human Rights) Agency has corroborated the migrants’ accounts to support their accusations.
Furthermore, in August 2020 the UN expressed their concerns in a statement over the ever-growing number of Turkish migrants being sent back to Turkey after reaching Greece. Furthermore, the UNHCR urges Greece to put a stop to such practices. The organization additionally reminds Greece that although it is the country’s right to control their borders in their own fashion, a state must allow and guarantee the safeguard of migrants seeking asylum. In short, the UNHCR reminds Greece that every migrant has the right to be heard and protected. As UNHCR had made the statement, it is evident that Turkish migrants are still being refused entry into Greece.
However, when reading about these topics, it is essential to remember the lives of those who were lost. Whether it had been Turkey’s or Greece’s fault in the death of the 19 migrants, it does not excuse the fact that the death and refusal of migrants is an increasing issue between the two countries.
In conclusion, in a group of 22 migrants, 19 died of frostbite in the Turkish tow of Ipsala after a rare winter storm that swept through Greece and Turkey. Ipsala is situated near the Greece-Turkey border. Additionally, Ipsala is where Turkish migrants seeking entry into the European Union often gather. Both Turkey and Greece refuse to take any blame as they continuously blame one another. The death of these migrants represents an increasing issue that remains neglected. Fortunately, organizations like the UNHCR have acknowledged the problem and have urged Greece to accept those seeking asylum.