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Mediterranean migrant arrivals so far eight times that of same period last year: IOM

Xinhua, April 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Friday that nearly 170,000 migrants and refugees have entered Europe along sea-borne routes in the first three months of 2016.

The organization pointed out it was more than eight times the number recorded during the first three months last year.

According to IOM reports, 169,060 migrants and refugees had entered Europe by sea as of March 30, and this includes 150,703 via the Eastern Mediterranean (Turkey to Greece) and 18,357 via the Central Mediterranean (North Africa to Italy).

IOM reports also showed that there have been 620 deaths at sea so far in 2016, compared with 505 through this period last year, an increase of 23 percent.

In 2015, a record 1 million migrants and refugees crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe. Endit