Migrant crisis: EU-Turkey deal comes into effect

An EU-Turkey deal to tackle the migrant crisis has formally come into effect.
Just hours before the agreement came into force, a four-month-old baby girl drowned when a boat carrying migrants sank off the Turkish coast, Turkey's Anadolu agency reported.

With the deal, it is hoped people will be discouraged from making the dangerous journey by sea from Turkey to Greece. In return, Turkey will receive aid and political concessions.

Since January 2015, one million migrants and refugees have entered the EU by boat from Turkey to Greece. More than 143,000 have arrived this year alone, and about 460 have died, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Human rights groups have strongly criticised the deal, with Amnesty International accusing the EU of turning "its back on a global refugee crisis".

On Saturday, thousands of people protested in support of refugees and against racism. Rallies were held in London, Athens, Barcelona, Amsterdam, Geneva and some other cities. 

In the Greek capital, protesters, including some Afghan refugees, chanted "Open the borders" and "We are human beings, we have rights".

In London, about 4,000 people joined a protest carrying placards with slogans like "Refugees welcome here" and "Stand up to racism". - Read More
Migrant crisis: EU-Turkey deal comes into effect - BBC News

Refugee crisis: Boats arrive in Greece despite EU deal - AJE ...