Roundup: Arrivals, fatalities of Mediterranean migrants still on rise

Latest figures released by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) on Friday showed that migrant and refugee sea arrivals in Europe has totalled 772,979 as of November 5, an increase of more than 68,000 from one week ago.

According to IOM, the vast majority of individuals reaching European shores choose Greece, a country which has seen 627,527 maritime arrivals in 2015 so far as their point of entry into Europe, while other EU destinations include Italy (141,501 arrivals), Spain (3,845) and Malta (106).

Worsening winter weather conditions are not deterring refugees and migrants from making crossings, IOM explained, while the latest figures showed that daily arrivals of migrants and refugees are continuing at high levels.

According to IOM, a total of 6,379 arrivals were registered on November 4, and the main countries of origin remain Syria and Afghanistan and the main departure country is still Turkey.

A total of 3,423 deaths have been recorded in the Mediterranean as of November 5 this year, compared to 3,149 for the whole of last year.

Statistics showed that the Central Mediterranean route is the most dangerous passage with 2,860 deaths to date, followed by the Eastern Mediterranean route (494).

"We know how many people arrive in Italy, but we will never know how many people actually depart from Libya. We think that there are shipwrecks that remain unknown and unfortunately the total of 2,860 recorded deaths in the Mediterranean is probably an underestimation," said IOM spokesperson in Italy Flavio Di Giacomo.

According to the IOM, the number of deaths off Greek islands, especially Lesvos and Samos, has surged with the arrival of the cold weather which, combined with bad conditions and rough seas, is making sea searches increasingly difficult. Endit