Greece and Turkey are exchanging accusations after Greek authorities found the people close to the countries border.
The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) says it is “deeply distressed by the shocking reports and images” of 92 people found at the Greek-Turkish land border stripped of their clothes.
“We condemn this cruel and degrading treatment and call for a thorough investigation into this incident,” UNHCR said. said on Twitter on Sunday.
Ankara and Athens swapped accusations after Greek authorities found the 92 refugees near its northern border with Turkey on Saturday.
Turkey’s Deputy Interior Minister Ismail Catakli denied his country’s involvement in Saturday night’s incident after Greece blamed Ankara for it.
“As you could not find a single case of human rights violations by Turkey, you are simply looking to expose the image of your own cruelty as if Turkey had done it,” Catakli said on Twitter in response to a tweet from the Greek Minister of Migration. Notis Mitarachi.
Catakli also called on Greece to stop “manipulation and dishonesty”.
UNHCR is deeply distressed by the shocking reports and images of 92 people, who were reportedly found at the Greek-Turkish land border stripped of their clothes.
We condemn this cruel and degrading treatment and call for a thorough investigation into this incident.
— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) October 16, 2022
Greek Citizens’ Protection Minister Takis Theodorikakos said on Sunday that accounts from refugees suggested they had been taken to Greece by Turkish military police.
“We would expect a working explanation from the side of the Turkish government,” he told a Greek TV channel.
Athens will soon extend a 40 km (24.8 mile) fence along its border with Turkey to prevent people from entering the country this way, Theodorikakos said.
Greece has urged Turkey to abide by a 2016 deal with the European Union in which Ankara agreed to stem the flow of refugees and migrants to Europe in exchange for billions of euros in aid.
Turkey says it has stepped up its measures to prevent people smuggling.
