More than 386 000 migrants, refugees arrived in Europe so far in 2016 – IOM
About 386 495 migrants and refugees have arrived in Europe so far in 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a regular weekly report on December 20.
Most, about 358 156, arrived by sea – the dangerous Mediterranean route, and so far, 4901 people who attempted the crossing this year were dead or missing, IOM said.
As of December 14, about 93 per cent of the arrivals of migrants and refugees in Europe in 2016 were in Italy and Greece.
Figures for December 19 showed 179 523 arrivals in Italy and 172 999 arrivals in Greece so far this year, IOM said.
By contrast, going by figures as of December 14, only just more than six per cent of arrivals were by land, through Bulgaria, Greece and Spain.
Between December 13 and 19, a total of 226 migrants and refugees arrived in Bulgaria, according to IOM’s report.