At least 25 migrants drown off Turkey, while Macedonian border bottleneck grows

At least 25 people drowned off the Turkish coast while trying to reach Greece on Sunday, while Macedonian authorities imposed further restrictions on refugees trying to cross the Greek border.

The Turkish coast guard launched a search-and-rescue mission for other migrants believed to be missing from the accident, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported, and rescued 15 off the Aegean Sea resort of Didim, it added.

The dead included three children, according to private Dogan news agency.

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Meanwhile, Greek police officials said Macedonian authorities are only allowing those from cities they consider to be affected by war to cross the Idomeni border crossing from Greece. That means people from cities such as Aleppo in Syria, for example, can enter, but those from the Syrian capital of Damascus or the Iraqi capital of Baghdad are being stopped.

The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorised to speak on the record.

A UN refugee agency official in Macedonia confirmed the new restrictions, and criticised the decision.

“This is not all right,” said Ljubinka Brasnarska, UNHCR senior external relations assistant in Macedonia. “Everybody from Syria who came needs international protection. This decision could be taken only by other competent international bodies, not by border authorities,” she said, adding she couldn’t explain the latest move.