Refugee deportations to Turkey continue

The controversial EU plan to deport refugees from Greece to Turkey has continued, with a second group being sent back earlier today.

The plan, aimed at reducing the number of migrants reaching Europe, means that refugees who have arrived in Greece illegaly from 20th March, will be sent back to Turkey if they do not apply for asylum or if their claim is rejected.

Under the plan, for each Syrian migrant returned to Turkey, the EU is due to take in another Syrian who has made a legitimate request.

The plan came into force last Monday, with around 200, mainly Pakistanis being deported. However, the process stalled as asylum applications surged.

According to media reports, three protesters dived into the water to try to stop a ferry carrying 45 Pakistani men as it left Lesbos this morning, while other protesters tried to enter the gates of the port, Mytilene.

One million refugees have entered the EU by boat from Turkey to Greece since early last year, but the returns arrangement has alarmed rights groups, who insist that Turkey is not a safe country for refugees.

The BBC reports that 140 people will be travelling on two boats on Friday, with the second carrying 95 from other islands. It adds that of those being returned to Turkey on Friday, the non-Syrians will be taken to deportation centres while any Syrians will be taken to refugee camps to take the place of Syrian refugees who will be directly resettled in the EU.

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has warned his country will only implement the deal if the EU sticks to its side of the bargain, which includes a further €3bn in aid, speeding up Turkey's EU accession process as well as granting Turks visa-free travel to the EU's Schengen area by the end of June.