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UNHCR investigates fate of 'dumped' Africans

News Stories, 27 July 2001

GENEVA, July 27 (UNHCR) – The U.N. Refugee Agency said Friday it has sent a protection team to investigate reports that a group of Africans had been dumped on the border between Greece and Turkey and had reputedly suffered drowning and rape as they were forced back and forth across the river boundary between the two countries.

UNHCR was also in touch with both Turkish and Greek authorities, but the situation concerning the group remained confused.

Reports surfaced earlier in the week that an unknown group of Africans had become trapped in the border area after being brought there by Turkish authorities. One report suggested about 150 Africans had managed to return to Turkey, while another said a number remained trapped by the river.

The UNHCR team on the Greek side of the border has already checked the Ipsala crossing area, scanned some islands in the river in the restricted border zone and is travelling to other regions, but thus far has reported no sign of the African group.

During the first two weeks of July, there was a sizeable roundup of foreigners in the Turkish city of Istanbul and possibly in the capital, Ankara, reputedly including an estimated 250 Africans who were separated from other nationalities such as Afghans, Iranians and Iraqis. After this was brought to UNHCR's attention, authorities identified some 20 people who had lodged asylum claims and they were subsequently released.

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Beyond the Border

In 2010, the Turkish border with Greece became the main entry point for people attempting by irregular methods to reach member states of the European Union, with over 132,000 arrivals. While some entered as migrants with the simple wish of finding a better life, a significant number fled violence or persecution in countries such as Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq and Somalia. The journey is perilous, with many reports of drowning when people board flimsy vessels and try to cross the Mediterranean Sea or the River Evros on the border between Greece and Turkey. The many deficiencies in the Greek asylum system are exacerbated by the pressure of tens of thousands of people awaiting asylum hearings. Reception facilities for new arrivals, including asylum-seekers, are woefully inadequate. Last year, UNHCR visited a number of overcrowded facilities where children, men and women were detained in cramped rooms with insufficient facilities. UNHCR is working with the Greek government to improve its asylum system and has called upon other European states to offer support.