Migrants wait in hope at Turkey-Greece border

By Salih Baran

EDIRNE, Turkey (AA) - Irregular migrants headed to Turkey’s northwestern Edirne province are attempting to enter Europe after border gates were opened.

But the migrants face the intervention of Greek police while exposed to severe weather conditions.

The attempt by the migrants coming from different provinces, especially Istanbul, to cross into Europe through the Pazarkule border crossing opening to Greece is ongoing.

More than three thousand migrants who gathered in front of the gate were exposed to tear gas and sound bombs.

Greek police try to push the crowd from the gate by opening fire into the air.

Around 750 irregular migrants waiting in the buffer zone built by Greek police using razor wire, were hoping the gate would open on Saturday.

Spending the night around the fire they set with branches collected from wood, the migrants, including women and children, also try to bear harsh weather conditions, and hunger.

Despite aid by the Edirne governorship and some non-governmental groups, help remains insufficient as numbers keep growing.

Late Thursday, at least 34 Turkish soldiers were martyred and dozens of others injured in an airstrike by Bashar al-Assad regime forces in Idlib, a de-escalation zone in northwestern Syria, just across Turkey’s southern border.

Turkish officials announced Friday that Turkey would no longer try to stop irregular migrants from reaching Europe.

Following that announcement, thousands of migrants flocked to Edirne to make their way to Europe.

Turkey already hosts nearly four million migrants from Syria alone, more than any other country.

Ankara has complained that Europe has failed to keep promises to help migrants and stem further migrant waves.

* Writing by Sena Guler