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Greek Coast Guard vessels recovered the dead bodies of two refugee babies on Sunday, the first day of the implementation of the European Union-Turkey deal to stem the influx of refugees into Europe.
The two dead refugee babies -- girls aged one and two -- were among some 40 passengers on a boat carrying refugees from Turkey to the Greek Aegean Sea islands, according to initial information from Greek authorities.
Under still unclear circumstances, they perished in the waters off the coasts of Ro islet, and there were no other casualties, according to authorities.
At least 185 children were among the 590 deaths recorded in the Aegean during 2015, according to UNICEF. The numbers continued to increase this year as people fleeing conflicts kept risking their lives to cross the sea on their journey to Europe. Over a million refugees and migrants entered Greece by sea since the start of 2015, according to International Organization for Migration data.
The agreement European leaders and Turkey sealed in Brussels on Friday aims to address the great challenge that has tested Europe's limits.
Starting from Sunday, new arrivals from Turkey into Greece will be screened on the Greek islands and then will be sent back to Turkey.
About 48,000 refugees have been stuck in Greece due to border closures along the Balkan route since mid-February, according to official statistics. They will be placed in shelters before being transferred to other European countries under the EU relocation program clinched in 2015.
Commenting on the new agreement, Greek cabinet ministers and opposition parties have urged the swift implementation of the commitments undertaken by all sides on Friday to relieve the humanitarian crisis on the country's northern borders.
European partners will send with no delay some 2,300 asylum and security experts and interpreters to assist in managing the refugees and migrants, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras said after the Brussels summit.
The prime minister has appealed in particular to the some 12,000 refugees living in the informal muddy camp of Idomeni next to the border crossing between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) to move into organized hospitality centers to receive proper aid by Greek authorities.
Refugees speaking to Xinhua on Saturday appeared divided. Some insisted on staying in Idomeni in the hope that the borders will reopen, while others have realized that this will not happen soon and decided to accept the offer provided by Greek and European authorities.
Some 500 people were transferred on Saturday by Greek authorities from Idomeni into organized shelters in northern Greece, according to Greek officials. Enditem
