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Migrant, refugee relocations in EU continue amid new arrivals

Xinhua, November 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

As the number of migrant and refugee sea arrivals in Europe reaches 800,000 this year, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported Tuesday that asylum seeker relocations are continuing in a bid to reduce the pressure on EU entry point countries with external borders.

Two such relocation operations were carried out by the Italian government last week. A total of 19 Eritreans were transferred to the French city of Nantes on Nov. 5, while 11 Eritreans and one Syrian were received by Spanish authorities on Nov. 8.

"Since October, 118 asylum seekers have been relocated to Finland, Sweden, Spain and France. The program is still in its initial phase, but the positive outcome should soon lead to many more asylum seekers being relocated," Director of the IOM Coordinating Office for the Mediterranean Federico Soda said.

So far this year, Greece has received the biggest influx of migrant maritime arrivals, with some 653,075 individuals reaching Greek soil, while Italy has recorded 141,766 entries, Spain 3,845 and Malta 106.

New arrivals are continuously being reported by Greek authorities. An estimated 17,600 migrants and refugees crossed over from Turkey between Nov. 6 and Nov. 8, according to Hellenic Police.

IOM figures show that while 512 deaths have been recorded on the Eastern Mediterranean route separating Turkey and Greece, a total of 3,455 individuals have lost their lives while attempting to reach Europe so far this year, compared to 3,166 for the whole of 2014. Endit