Turkey has claimed that it has rescued a total of 130 migrants over the last 48 hours. It says the migrants had been trying to reach Greek islands in the Aegean and were pushed back by Greece.
Over 48 hours the Turkish Coast Guard has rescued 130 migrants that were trying to reach Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, reported the Turkish daily Hurriyet.
The migrants, the newpaper claimed, quoting a Turkish coast guard department, were rescued in a series of four operations between August 8 and August 9, off the coast of Dikili and Karaburun in the Izmir province.
A regular accusation
Turkey regularly accuses Greece of pushing dinghies carrying migrants trying to reach Greek territory back into Turkish waters. The Greek government regularly denies pushbacks, saying that they are not contravening European or International law, despite frequent reports to the contrary from humanitarian organizations.
Most recently, politicians around Europe, including Germany's Foreign Minister have called for the allegations of pushbacks to be investigated. This includes examinining to what extent the European Border Agency Frontex may have played a role.
According to the Turkish coast guard, the operation was launched upon the notification that there was a group of migrants in a rubber boat off the coast of Dikili. The coast guard scrambled its team which then rescued 33 migrants.
Boat taking in water
According to the Turkish authorities, the migrants are believed to have reached Greek waters and then been pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces, on Aug. 8.
On the evening of the same day, another group of six migrants in a rubber boat, which was reportedly taking in water, was also rescued.
Later in the evening, off the Karaburun district, the teams carried out another operation and rescued another 37 migrants who they say were pushed back by Greek forces.
With the last operation, conducted on the night of Aug. 9, the Turkish Coast Guard rescued 54 more migrants off the coast of Karaburun district. Once landed they were sent to the Provincial Directorate of Migration Management in İzmir.