9 bodies, including those of 2 kids, recovered in waters off Turkey

The bodies of at least nine refugees, including two children, were recovered in waters off Turkey’s western coast on Tuesday.

The boat carrying the refugees drowned on the route from Turkey to Greece, the private Dogan news agency reported, adding that the Turkish coast guard saved two more people in a search and rescue operation.

The coast guard recovered the bodies after being alerted by two survivors who swam to the shore.

The refugees are said to have set off from the town of Seferihisar in Izmir Province in an apparent attempt to enter Greece.

Nearly 40 refugees drowned off another part of the Turkish coast on January 30.

Turkey has become a launching point for refugees trying to make it into Greece and Italy. Most of the refugees then try to reach Germany through the Balkan states.

Back in November last year, the Turkish government reached a deal with the European Union to stem the flow of refugees in return for USD 3.2 billion in financial aid.

However, the agreement has so far failed to check the tide of refugee arrivals. Senior authorities in Ankara say they are working on new legal measures to ban human smuggling as an act of terror and organized crime.

Denmark extends border controls

Denmark has announced to extend temporary control over its border with Germany for an additional 20 days amid the refugee crisis gripping Europe.

Copenhagen will keep the measures in place until at least February 23.

The Danish government implemented the temporary controls in early January, following Sweden’s decision to check the identification of all arrivals from Denmark.

In announcing the extension, Danish Integration Minister Inger Stojberg said the measures remain necessary as the government still sees high number of refugees and asylum seekers heading into Northern Europe.

“There is a danger that Denmark will end up as an end station for all of the people that wish to travel on to our Scandinavian neighbor countries and with the Swedish ID controls are still in effect, upon that background we still see a risk of illegal foreigners being stranded in Denmark if we end the border controls,” the minister stated, adding, “The government needs to react to the completely extraordinary situation in Europe right now and we are doing what we think is necessary to secure public order and safety in Denmark.”

A Danish government statement has also confirmed that Denmark’s random checks at the border with Germany would be intensified if needed.

Europe is facing an unprecedented influx of refugees, most of whom are fleeing conflict zones in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria.

European officials are struggling to forge a united response to the problem amid harsh measures taken by some EU members.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said some 24,000 people crossed the Mediterranean in the first two weeks of January. The Turkish coast guard said some 60 refugees have died so far this year off Turkey’s coasts.

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