Recep Tayyip Erdoğan demands burden-sharing in the refugee crisis
In conversation with Chancellor Angela Merkel, the Turkish president asked the EU to take responsibility for migrants. It is about “fair distribution”.
The Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan called in a phone call with Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) a burden-sharing in the refugee crisis. The announced the Turkish Presidency. Erdoğan, therefore, called for a “fair sharing of the burden and responsibility towards migrants” between the EU and Turkey.
Turkey opened its borders to the EU for refugees on Saturday. Since then, thousands of people have tried to cross the Turkish-Greek border. Greek border guards prevented around 10,000 people from crossing the border at the weekend. They sometimes used tear gas and stun grenades. According to the authorities, refugees tried to reach Greek islands via the Turkish coast. A boat capsized. One child died in the accident, and another was treated in the hospital.
On the island of Lesbos, residents have prevented refugees in several boats from going ashore. Small children were also on board at least one of these boats. 700 refugees arrived in Lesvos on Sunday, seven times the daily average this year. The island’s reception camps have been home to thousands of refugees for years and are completely overcrowded. Numerous witnesses and official bodies describe the hygienic conditions and the care of people as catastrophic.