Much less migrants enter Greece via Turkey

The number of irregular migrants who crossed to Greece via Turkey fell sharply in May after a Turkey-EU deal took effect in late March, according to figures released by the Turkish coast guard on Thursday.

The data indicated that 1,109 migrants were intercepted by Turkey's coast guards in May as they were crossing to Greek islands off Turkey's coast, a steep decline from 8,530 in March.

Migrants were still attempting to cross the Aegean Sea toward Europe during the first two days in June, as the Turkish coast guard seized a total of 46 Syrians traveling on overcrowded motor rafts in two separate incidents.

The Turkish coast guard reported no migrant casualties for April and May, whereas 173 migrants died in the first three months of this year before Turkey and the EU agreed on the deal seeking to stem their illegal flow to the continent.

The International Organization for Migration estimated that over 200,000 migrants and refugees had entered Europe by sea by May 30, landing in Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Spain.

Last year, over one million migrants managed to enter Europe, according to the organization.

As the Turkey-Greece route is being blocked, the migrants and refugees have been turning to the more dangerous North Africa-Italy route, with at least 880 people having been reported dead the previous week in their attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea toward Europe. Endit