More than 1200 migrants have arrived in Bulgaria since August 1 – IOM

A total of 1289 migrants have arrived in Bulgaria since August 1 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on August 15 in a regular update.

From August 1 to 7, 602 migrants arrived in Bulgaria, while 687 arrived from August 8 to 15.

Bulgaria ranks third in migrant arrivals in Europe – but by a vast distance. Italy, in first place, received 7259 migrants since August 1, according to figures compiled by IOM. Greece, in second place, received 1252 migrants since August 1.

Since the start of 2016, the main nationalities of arrivals in Bulgaria, by descending order, were Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

Meanwhile, on August 16, Bulgaria’s Interior Ministry said that Bulgarian Border Police based in the south-eastern town of Elhovo had prevented four attempts by a total of 111 migrants to cross the Turkish-Bulgarian border illegally. The interceptions happened over the past day, the ministry said.

IOM said that by August 15, there had been 278 201 arrivals in Europe so far in 2016: 278 201 by sea and 12 159 by land.

A total of 3151 people had died or were missing in the Mediterranean, having attempted to migrate to Europe, IOM said.

Reporting on migrant arrivals in other European countries, IOM said that in Hungary, in the period from August 8 to 15, 39 arrivals were registered – a 67 per cent decrease compared with the previous week.

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