At least 173 irregular migrants are being held in three districts in Turkey's western İzmir province.According to local security forces on Sat
At least 173 irregular migrants are being held in three districts in Turkey’s western İzmir province.
According to local security forces on Saturday, the migrants were spotted in dinghies off the coast of the Aegean Sea by the Turkish Coast Guard.
Some 64 migrants, including 58 Afghans and six Syrians, were held off the coast of the Süngükaya Island in İzmir’s Çeşme district.
Another 41 were held off the coast of Karaada. Of them, 21 were from Afghanistan, 17 from Syria and another three from Iran.
One more boat with 68 irregular migrants on board was captured by the Coast Guard off the coast of the Seferihisar district. The group consisted of 42 Afghans, 23 Syrians, one Palestinian, one Algerian and one Kuwaiti.
All of the migrants have been taken to the provincial migration office.
In 2018, some 268,000 irregular migrants were held in Turkey, according to the Interior Ministry. Turkey has been a key transit point for irregular migrants aiming to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.