80,000 migrants enter Europe from Turkey

ISTANBUL－More than 80,000 illegal migrants have so far crossed into Europe from Turkey's northwestern borders, Fahrettin Altun, the communication director of the Turkish presidency, said in a statement on Sunday.

"This number may increase in the coming days," Altun said, noting that "humanitarian suffering, unprecedented displacement and the migration challenge in Syria "is not only Turkey's problem, but that of the region, Europe and the entire world.

Altun also said that Turkey is open to "serious and robust" cooperation, and it will do its part, but other countries must do their part as well on the issue.

Meanwhile, thousands of refugees, including Syrians, Iraqis, Iranians, and Pakistanis, seeking better living conditions, have been forcing their way into Turkey's northwestern province of Edirne to cross into Europe.

After Turkey announced on Thursday that it would no longer stop the migrants from going to Europe, refugees have gathered near the Pazarkule border gate.

Refugees have mostly started to cross the border to the Greek side via the Evros River in either fishing boats or inflatable boats over the last two days, according to local journalists.

"Turkish villagers, those with fishing boats, have been carrying refugees to the other side of the river," said Yasin Akgul, a photojournalist.

The price of this journey for one person varies from $35 to $70, Akgul said, noting that no fee is required for children.

Meanwhile, many refugees are spending days and nights along the river to bargain with the fishermen for a more affordable price, Akgul said.

"The villagers here told us that those who could manage to cross the river to the other side have to walk approximately 1.5 kilometers in the buffer zone, trying not to be caught," he added.

Those who were captured by Greek security forces were pushed back into Turkey, Akgul said, adding that Greek soldiers were often seen covering the different parts of the river shore with barbed wire.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Sunday that his country was determined to protect its borders and warned migrants not to "attempt to enter the country illegally as they would be returned back".

Turkey decided to open its border gates for illegal migrants after at least 33 Turkish soldiers were killed in an airstrike in Syria's northwestern province of Idlib, the last rebel-held stronghold.

Around 1.5 million Syrian refugees, fleeing from the bombardments of Syrian forces in Idlib, have also flooded Turkey's border with Syria.

Currently, Turkish authorities do not allow these refugees to cross the border into Turkey, keeping them on the Syrian side.

With more than 3.7 million Syrian refugees on its territory, the Turkish government earlier announced that it could no longer cope with a new flood of refugees.

Xinhua - Agencies