Iraq – Turkey ‘close’ the canal for the transfer of migrants to Belarus

LAST UPDATE: 19.04

The Iraqi Foreign Ministry announced today that it was suspending direct flights to Belarus from Iraq in a bid to protect Iraqis from human trafficking gangs amid the ongoing immigration crisis on Belarus’ border with Poland.

“The Iraqi embassies in Moscow and Warsaw are coordinating Iraq’s efforts to voluntarily return those trapped on the Belarusian border,” the ministry spokesman was quoted as saying by the Iraqi state news agency.

“Iraq has suspended direct flights between Iraq and Belarus,” he added.

Earlier today, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of Turkey (SHGM) announced that citizens from Syria, Yemen and Iraq will no longer be allowed to buy tickets for flights from Turkey to Minsk.

The European Union (EU) says Belarus is encouraging thousands of people fleeing war-torn parts of the world to try to cross its border and could impose new sanctions on Minsk and airlines carrying migrants on Monday.

Turkey bans Syrians, Iraqis and Yemenis from flying to Belarus

Meanwhile, citizens of Syria, Yemen and Iraq will no longer be allowed to buy airline tickets from Turkey to Minsk, the General Directorate of Civil Aviation of Turkey (SHGM) announced on Friday.

The EU says Belarus is encouraging thousands of people to try to cross its border and may impose new sanctions on the country and on airlines carrying migrants from Monday.

Turkey and Turkish Airlines have been accused of contributing to the flow of migrants, a charge they have rejected.

– Belarus says it has sent back about 2,000 migrants