Over 37,000 irregular migrants have been sent to the repatriation centers of local migration offices across Turkey over the past seven months, according to the metropolis Istanbul's migration authority on Saturday.

As part of efforts to prevent the flow of irregular migration, Turkey in 2021 has sent 37,072 irregular migrants to repatriation centers located across 22 provinces.

The Istanbul Migration Authority said 12,893 of the foreigners subject to deportation were from Afghanistan, 5,840 from Pakistan, and 18,339 from other nationalities.

Anadolu Agency captured the moment of the departure of hundreds of Afghan irregular migrants from Istanbul Airport. The footage shows migrants passing through an airport security point and escorted by police and gendarmerie.

Turkey has been a key transit point for asylum seekers who want to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution.

Turkey, which already hosts 4 million refugees -- more than any country in the world -- is taking new security measures both within and on borders to prevent a fresh influx of migrants./aa