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Migrant flows to Greece, Balkans continue amid worsening weather

Xinhua, November 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported on Tuesday that an estimated 24,000 migrants and refugees reached Greek soil between Oct. 30 and Nov. 1.

Figures provided by the Hellenic Police indicate that some 10,842 new arrivals were recorded on Oct. 30, followed by 8,998 on Oct. 31 and 4,292 on Nov. 1.

The disparity in numbers is linked to winter weather patterns and rough seas which reduce the number of days migrants and refugees can safely travel from Turkey, IOM explained.

An estimated 200,000 migrants arrived in Greece by sea during October this year. This influx has been accompanied by a rise of fatalities on sea-borne routes.

On the Eastern Mediterranean passage separating Turkey and Greece alone, IOM reported that over 220 migrants and refugees lost their lives last month.

IOM also indicated that the number of migrants and refugees crossing from Greece to the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) has remained high, with an average of 6,625 crossings taking place every day between Oct. 27 and Nov. 1.

IOM figures show that 760,979 maritime arrivals in Europe have been recorded so far this year, while 3,406 people have lost their lives.

Greece remains by far the country receiving the highest influx of migrants. A number of 616,392 individuals have entered the country so far in 2015, followed by 140,636 maritime arrivals in Italy, 3,845 in Spain and 106 in Malta. Endit