The Turkish authorities have arrested 200 Syrian refugees before heading to the Greek island of Rhodes, Anadolu news agency reported on Friday.

The majority of them were children and women.

Medical tests were carried out for the refugees, who were provided with blankets and food.

According to latest data from the International Organization for Migration, 800,000 refugees reached Europe via the Aegean Sea from Turkey to Greece, accounting for 80 percent of the refugees arriving irregularly in Europe by sea in 2015.

According to the UN’s refugee agency, more than 950,000 people in total have reached Europe by sea this year.

Source: MENA