IOM Reports Rise in Migrant Deaths in Mediterranean Crossings in January

Refugees and migrants arrive in an overloaded rubber dinghy on the Greek island of Lesbos (Lesvos), Greece, 15 December 2015 after crossing the Aegean Sea from Turkey. Photo EPA/BGNES

Forty-six migrants or refugees have been reported dead or missing in the Mediterranean in the first six days of 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported.

“That’s already more than half the fatalities reported in all of January last year, and more deaths than were counted in the first three months of 2014,” according to a news release posted on the IOM website.

Increased policing on Turkey's shores and colder weather conditions have not deterred refugees and migrants from the Middle East, Asia and Africa from embarking on the perilous journey to Greek islands in the Aegean Sea, the IOM said.

The IOM estimates that 3,771 migrants overall died while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe last year.

A total of 847,084 migrants and refugees arrived to Greece by sea last year. This compared with 34,442 arrivals in 2014, the IOM said.

 

 

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