Over 50 Syrian migrants rescued from sinking boat near Turkey

Coast guards have rescued at least 51 Syrian migrants after their boat sank off Turkey’s western Aegean coast, Turkish officials say.

The governor of Izmir says the group comprised 38 men, two women and 11 children.

In 2014, 12,621 people were rescued in more than 500 incidents in that particular stretch of sea.

A bridge between Asia and Europe, Turkey has become a transit point for migrants from as far afield as Africa and South Asia.

#SyriaCrisis: Overview of #Syrian#IDPs and #refugees - @eu_echohttp://t.co/eKsTCh8oZUpic.twitter.com/XgVuIVxCjQ

— ReliefWeb (@reliefweb) February 2, 2015

It is also a major destination for human trafficking, according to the International Organization for Migration; an agency helping governments tackle illegal migration.