Gendarmerie Blocks Migrants’ March Towards Edirne Border Gate, Sparks Protests

Ali Can Zeray / Edirne, Sep 18
Following a three-day-long tense “wait for hope”, Syrian migrants having camped near Edirne has recently hit the TEM highway to march towards the border gate.

The group’s way has been recently blocked by the gendarmerie, at a short distance to the gates.

Meanwhile, the TEM highway at the Edirne direction has been closed to traffic.

Syrian migrants have come to Edirne in attempt to cross into Greece, then Europe, having fled the civil war in their home country. However a large group has been refused to enter Greece and had to sleep on streets, terminals.

A large group of migrants have been camping since late Sep. 15, as their attempts to cross into the city on foot was blocked by gendarmerie and police teams.

The representatives of the group has announced they would wait until 15.00 and then hit the highway towards Edirne, if the meeting with PM Ahmet Davutoğlu, requested by the migrants was not assured. The time limit that Edirne Governor Dursun Ali Şahin has given to the migrants to stay at the area will end soon.

Migrants wave hands to the drone shooting footage

While more than 800 migrants have been camping in the region, local reports said some of the families have been staying under the trees and sleeping with blankets by the highway. Some of them washed and dried their clothes by hanging them on trees.

Early today, migrants have had a moment of excitement, as they have thought a drone belonging to Itaian television taking their footage was actually a helicopter that Germany has sent to help them and ease their passage through Turkey. Some of them waved their hands up to the drone, and said “This helicopter was sent from Germany to make inspection about our situation and let us in”.

Video Stream

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- Footage of group marching towards Edirne

- Group blocked by gendarmerie

- Some of the migrants protests the officers

- Drone footage of the group

DHA FEED