UN concerned over EU-Turkey refugee deal

The United Nations human rights chief has voiced concern over a deal between Turkey and the European Union on curbing the flow of refugees, saying it could lead to "collective expulsions" of war-hit people in violation of international law.

On March 18, the EU and Ankara struck a deal aimed to cut off the refugees' sea crossing from Turkey to the Greece’s Aegean islands.

Under the agreement, all refugees landing on the Greek islands would be sent back to Turkey if they do not apply for asylum or if their claim is rejected. In return, the EU would take in thousands of Syrian refugees directly from Turkey, which is home to some three million Syrian refugees, and grant Ankara with more money, early visa-free travel and faster progress in EU membership talks.

The deal went into effect on Sunday.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein said on Thursday that there was a contradiction in the agreement between the declared aim to return all refugees and assurances that individual claims for asylum would be assessed.

"Disturbingly, there have also been recent reports of forcible returns amounting to refoulement from Turkey,” Zeid said in a statement.

The term "refoulement" refers to illegal forced return of refugees facing conflict or persecution in their homelands.

Europe has been witnessing an unprecedented influx of refugees who are fleeing conflict-ridden zones in Africa and the Middle East, particularly Syria.

Last year, more than a million refugees entered the continent.

Many blame major European powers for the exodus of refugees from their home countries, saying Western states’ policies have led to a surge in terrorism and wars, forcing more people out of their homes.

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