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Migrant sea arrivals in EU rise despite newly deployed NATO vessels

Xinhua, March 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Despite the presence of NATO ships in the eastern Mediterranean, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported Tuesday that the influx of refugees and migrants in Europe is still growing, with 141,141 maritime arrivals recorded since the start of 2016.

According to figures, 131,847 migrants have arrived on Greek shores by sea, with the remaining 9,294 reaching Italy.

444 people have died so far this year attempting to cross the Mediterranean, with most fatalities (347) recorded on the narrow eastern Mediterranean passage separating Turkey and Greece.

The remaining 97 deaths are documented on the central Mediterranean route which links North Africa with Italy.

IOM revealed that the three top nationalities of migrants arriving in Greece this year are Syrians (63,038), followed by Afghans (33,844) and Iraqis (21,514).

Over one million migrants and refugees reached Europe last year, with most (853,650) arriving in Greece.

In comparison, only 34,442 maritime migrant arrivals were recorded in the south-eastern European country in 2014. Endit