Turkish Coast Guard teams not only continue efforts to end illegal crossings in the Aegean Sea but also remain a ray of hope for irregular migrants pushed to death by Greek officers.

Irregular migrants set out on hope-filled journeys to reach Europe, leaving behind war and conflict in their homelands. However, the perils at sea often cut short their dreams and they find themselves stranded.

Anadolu Agency followed the Turkish Coast Guard on its rescue mission for migrants stranded in the Aegean Sea.

The TGSC 902 Boat Command team, which patrols the coast of the Cesme district of Izmir, received a tip-off about irregular migrants who were stranded near Bogaz Island.

Security teams rescued a total of 19 irregular migrants, including two children. There were 15 nationals from Palestine and four from Eritrea.

The late-night operation was carried out in subzero temperatures and the teams distributed thermal blankets to the migrants.

After being brought to shore, they were given hygiene packages, blankets, clothes, shoes, diapers, pajamas, and food to meet their daily protein needs.

Speaking to Anadolu Agency, 16-year-old Ahmet Hannevi said they set out for Europe three months ago.

"We set off from Izmir at noon. We arrived at Chios, Greece at 3 p.m. The Greeks caught us on land. They hit us, and the women with iron sticks. They took away our phones and money and left us in the sea on a life raft.

"We know how to swim, but we had children with us. They don't know how to swim, we were very afraid," he said.

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

Turkey and international human rights groups have repeatedly condemned Greece’s illegal practice of pushing back asylum seekers, saying it violates humanitarian values and international law by endangering the lives of vulnerable people, including women and children./aa

The death of a Black 17-year-old in a juvenile detention center in the Midwestern US state of Kansas was a homicide, according to a new autopsy report.

Cedric Lofton, a young man who was taken in custody on suspicion of battery against police officers and held at the Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center in the city of Wichita, died on Sept. 26 from "complications of cardiopulmonary arrest sustained after physical struggle while restrained in the prone position," KWCH12 news reported on Tuesday, citing the Sedgwick County medical examiner ruling from Monday.

Following an altercation with staff members on Sept. 24, Lofton was taken to a local hospital and died two days later.

The autopsy “indicates Lofton had been lying face down for as many as 39 minutes when juvenile facility staff realized he had no pulse. The document says he was shackled and handcuffed," said the local TV station.

The attorney for Lofton’s family released a statement saying the autopsy "confirmed" their belief that the juvenile facility staff "killed" Cedric.

"As supported by the video evidence, these individuals unjustifiably and with excessive and unreasonable force pinned Cedric to the ground, ultimately killing the unarmed, 135-pound, 17-year-old African American teenager,” said the statement.

His family believes prosecutors “should pursue criminal charges against the law enforcement personnel responsible for Cedric’s death," it added.

Cedric’s death was caused "by the hands of the very authorities that were obligated to protect him and make sure he was safe," said the lawyer.

"Instead, they killed him with conscious disregard for the young life in their keeping,” it added.

While the staff members involved in the case have not been identified, local authorities said they are on paid administrative leave.

In a statement, local District Attorney Marc Bennett stressed that his office is reviewing the autopsy, adding that a "lengthy investigation" was launched by the sheriff's office and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation./agencies

Turkey has rescued 526 irregular migrants over the past 12 days who were pushed back into Turkish territorial waters by Greek forces, the country's Coast Guard Command said Tuesday.

From Dec. 13-25, “in a total of 52 incidents, 991 irregular migrants and 10 migrant smugglers were apprehended, and 526 irregular migrants pushed back into our territorial waters by Greek assets were rescued," it said in a statement.

The statement also highlighted Turkey's efforts to prevent irregular migration and illegal activities on a 24/7 basis and to assist anyone in need of help at sea while respecting human rights and both domestic and international law

The command also expressed Turkey's concern over rising casualties along migration routes due to Greek security forces' pushback tactics and pressure policy, forcing irregular migrants to change course directly to Italy.

Greek officials' unfortunate statements blaming Turkey show how unserious they are about addressing the situation, it added.

Meanwhile, the Turkish Coast Guard on Tuesday rescued 88 irregular migrants, including 56 who were pushed back by Greek authorities in the Aegean Sea.

While 56 of the migrants were rescued off the coast of Bodrum district, 32 others were rescued off Fethiye district in southwestern Mugla province.

Greece is the main route into the European Union for asylum seekers arriving via Turkey.

Turkey has been a key transit point for irregular migrants who want to cross into Europe to start new lives, especially those fleeing war and persecution in their countries.

It already hosts 4 million refugees, more than any other country in the world, and is taking new security measures on its borders to humanely prevent a fresh influx of migrants./aa

The United Nations warned on Tuesday that human rights violations will not go on with “impunity” in war-torn Yemen.

We stress “that violations of international humanitarian and human rights law in Yemen cannot continue with impunity,” UN Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, said in a statement.

The UN envoy “denounced the recent major military escalation in Yemen”, and urged the warring sides “to immediately de-escalate”.

The ongoing “escalation undermines the prospects of reaching a sustainable political settlement to end the conflict in Yemen,” Grundberg warned.

Yemen has been engulfed by violence and instability since 2014, when Iran-aligned Houthi rebels captured much of the country, including the capital Sanaa.

A Saudi-led coalition aimed at reinstating the Yemeni government has worsened the situation, causing one of the world’s worst man-made humanitarian crises, with nearly 80% or about 30 million needing humanitarian assistance and protection, and more than 13 million in danger of starvation, according to UN estimates.

Since February, Houthi rebels have stepped up attacks to take control of the oil-rich Marib province, one of the most important strongholds of the legitimate government and home to the headquarters of Yemen’s Defense Ministry.

“The continued offensive on Marib and the continued missile attacks on the governorate are also resulting in civilian casualties, damage to civilian objects and mass displacement,” Grundberg said.

He also blamed the Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Sanaa for causing loss of civilian lives and damage of “civilian infrastructure and residential areas.”

The UN diplomat decried the impact of the escalation on the humanitarian situation and reminded all sides that any indiscriminate attacks on civilians constitute “a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately.”

Grundberg expressed his dismay that the year 2021 “is ending on a tragic note for Yemenis, millions of whom are struggling with poverty, hunger and severe restrictions on their freedom of movement.”

He underscored his readiness to facilitate de-escalation of violence with all parties and “address urgent humanitarian needs, and enable a political process aimed at sustainably and comprehensively ending the conflict in Yemen.”

A recent United Nations report projected that by the year’s end, the death toll from the seven-year Yemeni conflict will reach 377,000./agencies

   Generally, during the end of the year and New Year Kuwait International Airport witnesses large moments of travelers. This year a small number of departures were witnessed. The holidays coincided with student exams at universities and schools plus there has been a spread of Omicron in favorite destinations. Also Cabinet Ministers have made compulsory 10 days home quarantine or to do a PCR test negative after 72 hours of arrival and get away with additional 7 days of quarantine.  

All these factors have put a roadblock in departures. Many international connecting flights have been canceled, and travelers avoided travel in order not to get infected or due to fear of Kuwait airport being closed, many did not want to take a risk.  

The new circular was issued by the administration to all airlines operating at Kuwait Airport to implement new procedures. One of the main procedures was for departing Kuwaiti citizens, those who have been vaccinated with a second dose 9 months before, a booster dose was compulsory before traveling. Another main decision was for arrivals, a home quarantine for a period of 10 days after arrival, if they need to end their quarantine period after 72 hrs of arrival PCR test confirming negative can end their home quarantine. Also arriving passengers need to provide a swab test of 48 hrs PCR negative certificate before boarding the flight instead of 72 hrs. The Cabinet Ministers also recommended avoiding traveling due to the increase in spread of infection and staying safe. 

On Sunday,  Kuwait International Airport witnessed 100 flights arriving and 100 flights departing in total 200 flights bringing in 12,998 passengers and 11,289 passengers departed. /Arab Times