Angela Merkel has promised that Germany will welcome some of the 1,500 Syrian refugee children trapped on Greek islands – and revealed other countries in Europe will be asked to do the same.
The coalition government said it would support youngsters after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan refused to stop people crossing into the EU.
At an overnight meeting it resolved to ‘support Greece regarding the difficult humanitarian situation of about 1,000 to 1,500 children on the Greek islands’.
Germany offered to host children in dire need of medical treatment or those who are unattended minors and younger than 14, especially girls.
Chancellor Angela Merkel has laid responsibility for the border crisis at Erdogan’s feet.
Her spokesman, Steffen Seibert, reiterated Berlin’s solidarity with Greece, and said ‘Turkey very clearly bears responsibility for having sent these desperate people into a dead end.’
Migrants and refugees walk towards the Greek border with their belongings near the Pazarkule border gate in Edirne today
Refugees ride on a horse cart near by the Greek border with their belongings near Pazarkule border gate in Edirne
Pictured: Migrants carry children toward the Greek border today as the crisis continues to unfold in Turkey
Migrants eat some food as they wait near by the Greek border with their belongings near Pazarkule border gate in Edirne, Turkey, today
Female asylum seekers waiting at Turkey’s Pazarkule border crossing to reach Europe stage a demonstration at the buffer zone demanding to open the gate during ‘International Women’s Day’ today
It didn’t say exactly how many children Germany would take, but said an agreement regarding children would be negotiated by a European ‘coalition of the willing’ in coming days.
It comes as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan heads to Brussels for talks with EU officials amid a standoff over sharing of responsibility for refugees and migrants.
Thousands have massed at Turkey’s land border with EU-member Greece after Erdogan announced he would no longer stop people from crossing over into EU territory.
Turkey is home to more than 3.5 million Syrian refugees and Erdogan has demanded Europe shoulder more responsibility.
Pictured: A demonstration by female asylum seekers who are waiting at Turkey’s Pazarkule border crossing to reach Europe
He accused the bloc of failing to pay money promised to Turkey under a 2016 deal to stem the flow of migration to Europe. The EU claims it is paying the money.
The 2016 deal slashed the number of migrants arriving on the continent and called on Ankara to halt the flow of Europe-bound migrants and refugees in exchange for up to 6 billion euros ($6.7 billion) in aid for Syrian refugees on its territory, fast-track EU membership and visa-free travel to Europe for Turkish citizens.
A high-level Turkish official said the sides would discuss a possible revision of the 2016 deal. It wasn’t clear if an agreement would emerge on Monday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity in line with government rules.
Erdogan was also expected to raise concerns over alleged violence carried out by Greek authorities as they push back the migrants.
President Erdogan called on Greece to ‘open the gates’ for migrants trying to reach Europe at Turkey’s border ahead of his talks with the EU on Monday
Greece has deployed riot police and border guards to repel people trying to enter the country and the Greek border area has since seen violent confrontations between them and the migrants. On Saturday, youths threw rocks at Greek police and tried to pull down a border fence.
Turkey says two migrants were killed in violence along the border. Greece has denied the accusations.
EU foreign ministers have criticized Turkey, saying it is using the migrants’ desperation ‘for political purposes.’ EU countries are still dealing with the political fallout from a wave of mass migration five years ago.
Thousands of migrants have slept in terrible conditions in makeshift camps near the Greek border since the Turkish government said they were free to go, waiting for the opportunity to enter Greece.
Tens of thousands of migrants were already in Greece before Turkey announced it would open the border in February.
Many live in overcrowded camps on Greek islands, where they first arrive from the Turkish coast. The 2016 deal stipulates new arrivals must remain on the islands pending deportation unless they successfully apply for asylum.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will visit Berlin today and tomorrow for talks.
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Monday that Germany wouldn’t accept Turkey using people as a bargaining chips.
Greek authorities said in the 24 hours between Sunday and Monday morning, they had blocked 1,646 attempts to cross the border and arrested two people – one Moroccan and one Egyptian.