It is believed that Turkey decided to open its borders, in violation of a 2016 agreement reached with the EU in which Turkey agreed to prevent asylum seekers from entering the EU in exchange for funding and accelerated accession talks, in order to put pressure on the EU to support Turkey's ongoing offensive in the Syrian province of Idlib. 

Since opening its borders this morning, hundreds of refugees began boarding dingies and attempting to reach the Greek island of Lesbos, where overcrowding and appalling conditions have already created an "unprecedented" humanitarian catastrophe. 

The EU is yet to issue a formal reaction or response to Turkey's actions today. 

Image Credit: Lehtikuva