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More refugees, migrants returned to Turkey as tension rises at Lesvos camp

Xinhua, April 28, 2016 Adjust font size:

Twelve Syrian refugees were returned to Turkey from the Greek island of Lesvos by airplane on Wednesday in the first such readmission this spring, local authorities announced.

According to the spokesperson of the European border control agency Frontex Eva Montuguer as well as the Greek Public Order Ministry, the refugees had requested their return to Turkey.

It was the first return by airplane to Adana, Turkey, Lieutenant General of Greek Police Zaharoula Tsirigoti noted.

In addition, 49 migrants were returned to Turkey by boats from the Greek islands on Tuesday, the third such mission under the March 18 EU-Turkey deal to cope with the refugee crisis, the Greek authorities announced.

Thirteen people were returned to Turkey from Lesvos, five from Chios island and 31 from Kos island.

Greece sent back to Turkey on April 6 the first batch of 136 people under the EU-Turkey deal clinched in March to stem the influx into Europe via the Aegean Sea and on April 8 further 124 deportations followed from three Greek islands, namely Lesvos, Kos, Samos.

Moreover, according to the local authorities, they are not going to be other deportations until May 1.

Meanwhile, some protests were observed by the local police on Tuesday in the Camp of Moria in Lesvos, during the visit of Alternate Interior Minister Yiannis Mouzalas as tension rises in the closed facility.

On Wednesday morning Lesvos counted 62 refugee arrivals, while the Detention Center of Moria and the camp of Kara Tepe have already hosted 4,150 refugees and migrants, according to the latest figures released by the Coast Guard. Endit