2016 Suppressed News: Europe: Turkey

23.2.16

2016 Suppressed News - Europe: Turkey is closing its borders to tens of thousands of refugees from Aleppo where the NATO country sponsored rebel groups against Syrian President Assad are under severe pressure by the Syrian army and Russia's air power. An estimated 300,000 civilians remain trapped in the war zone. This is one of many sources of refugees seeking asylum in Europe. According to UNICEF about 36% of the refugees leaving Turkey, crossing the sea to Greece, are children. Women and children now make up 60% of the refugee influx which was 73% male last summer. Since September over 330 children drowned in the crossing. According to the International Organisation for Migration, over 36,000 refugees reached Greece and Italy by sea in the first three weeks of 2016.

Partial sources online: "UN says one-third of refugees sailing to Europe are children," Agence France-Presse, Feb. 3, 2016, theguardian; "Dozens drown off Greek islands in deadliest January for refugees," Mark Tran et al, Jan. 22, 2016, theguardian; "Migrant Arrivals in Europe by Sea Reached 36,556 in First 21 Days of 2016: IOM," Jan. 22, 2016, International Organisation for Migration; "Syria: Hundreds dead and tens of thousands displaced as Aleppo siege continues," Harriet Sinclair, Feb. 10, 2016, International Business Times.