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Significant drop of maritime migrants reaching Greece: IOM

Xinhua, June 4, 2016 Adjust font size:

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported Friday that just 1,465 migrants and refugees reached Greek shores by sea in May this year, fewer than the total amount of daily arrivals in January and February.

According to IOM figures, 67,417 entries by sea were registered in Greece in January, a figure which fell to 57,066 in February, 26,971 in March and 3,650 in April.

This dip of arrivals can largely be attributed to a controversial EU-Turkey migration deal in effect since April.

The agreement aimed to stem migration flows into Greece, a country which has received 156,577 men, women and children so far this year.

Despite the dramatic drop, migrant flows into the south-eastern European country have not been completely stopped.

IOM received reports this morning of over 250 migrants having been rescued from a shipwreck off the Greek island of Crete which is thought to have left Africa with at least 700 souls on board.

Latest statistics show that 205,509 migrants have reached Europe so far in 2016. Some 2,443 people have died attempting to do so. Enditem