The government of Greece has announced that a new "closed" migrant camp will be created in the country's north as an emergency measure, as thousands of people attempt to cross into Greece at the land border with Turkey in Evros.
According to local reports, the new facility will be created in a matter of days at an as-yet-unspecified location. It will be used to temporarily host migrants who entered the country illegally since March 1, with a view to deporting them immediately back to their country of origin.
This new "closed" center will be the first of its kind on the mainland, and will be the sixth overall, following the government's recent controversial efforts to start construction work on five similar facilities on the northeastern Aegean Islands of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos.
Suspension of asylum applications
Following a rush of migrants to the Turkish-Greek border, the Greek government issued a legislative act that stipulates a one-month suspension of all asylum applications from people who illegally enter the country.
The move sparked outrage from NGOs and human rights groups, but was deemed necessary by Greece to avoid a repeat of the 2015 refugee crisis. It received the full backing of the European Union, which has pledged both funds and extra border patrol staff to help with the situation.
According to protocols put in place, any migrants who manage to cross the Turkish border into Greece will not be registered and will be returned immediately to their country of origin. The measure will have a retroactive effect and will include everyone who has entered the country illegally since March 1.
"The suspension of the asylum process sends a very important message that our country will not consider as a refugee any person who enters the country illegally," said Greece's Migration Minister Notis Mitarakis.
He said the migrants were being used as pawns by Turkey in an attempt to dispute Greece's sovereign rights.
Tensions remain high at border
Tensions remain high at the Evros border, with new violent clashes between migrants and Greek police and border forces on Wednesday. The Greek authorities once again used tear gas to disperse crowds that were trying to break through border fences, while video images from local media showed tear gas also being used on the Turkish side. Greek police said the tear gas and smoke bombs coming from the Turkish side were being thrown by Turkish police using multiple launcher cannons.
These latest developments came just 24 hours after EU leaders met for emergency talks, praising Greece for its actions and pledging support to the tune of 700 million euros, as well as more Frontex border patrol staff and equipment.
According to figures released by the Greek government on Wednesday, it prevented a total of 27.823 people from illegally entering the country between 6 am on Saturday, Feb 29, and 6 am on Wednesday, March 4, with 220 people arrested.
A total of 2,791 people were denied entry in the last 24 hours alone, while a total of 34 people from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Iran were arrested on charges of attempting to enter Greece illegally. Although the number of people on boats trying to get from the Turkish coast to the Aegean Islands has decreased in the last 24 hours, the Greek Port Authority said 73 refugees and immigrants managed to land on two islands.