Turkey confirms the departure of 100 thousand immigrants towards Europe and popular anger in Greece

Turkey announced on Sunday evening that the number of irregular migrants who left the western borders towards Europe has risen by more than 100,000, and Greek authorities are still preventing their entry, and residents of the Greek island of Lesbos have prevented landing a boat carrying immigrants.

"Until 19:40 local time (16:40 GMT), he left the country through the state of Edirne 100 thousand and 577 immigrants," and hours after announcing that the number was about 76 thousand.

Hundreds are trying to enter Greece from various points across the river or land, as they cut barbed wire or jump over it, while the Greek police continue to suppress the migrants crowded with rubber bullets and gas bombs.

Greek government spokesman Stelios Pitsas told reporters that Turkey is pushing and encouraging the movement of migrants, adding, "In light of the current conditions, the current situation represents an effective, serious and unbalanced threat to the country's national security."

The Greek government also announced the suspension of the stay of asylum by those who enter the country illegally for a month.

Population anger
By sea, many migrants try to reach the Greek islands in crowded boats, but a group of residents of the island of Lesbos prevented about fifty migrants, including children, from mooring their boat after several hours spent at sea.

"Go back to Turkey," shouted residents, in a wave of anger, against migrants. Some also attacked journalists, photographers, beat them and threw their cameras at sea.

Near the overcrowded camp on the island, where more than 19,000 migrants reside, another group of residents, using iron chains and stones, attempted to prevent police buses carrying asylum-seekers who arrived today from reaching the reception center.

Angry residents set up a former migrant shelter that was run by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees before it closed at the end of January.

At least 500 migrants on Sunday morning, arriving on dozens of boats, to the islands of Chios, Samos and Lesbos despite the high winds.

European Union
With the tension escalating, the European Union foreign ministers decided to hold an emergency meeting next week at the request of Greece, and European Union Commissioner for External Affairs Josep Borrell said in a statement that the battles in the Syrian Idlib governorate "constitute a serious threat to international peace and security" and have serious humanitarian repercussions for the region And beyond.

Borrell called on Turkey to respect the agreement concluded with the European Union in 2016 on limiting the arrival of immigrants to European Union countries, adding that "the European Union supports Greece and Bulgaria in facing the evolving situation."