Migrant Deaths at Sea Near Deadly Milestone of 4,000
1/11/2016
IOM reports that almost 4,000 migrants and refugees have died or gone missing so far in 2016 (up to 30/10). The 3,940 deaths have already surpassed the total from the whole of 2015 when over 3,700 died or went missing trying to cross the Mediterranean, heading for Europe.
IOM also reports that 333,384 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2016 through 30 October, arriving mostly in Greece and Italy. Some 169,706 people have arrived in Greece and 158,205 in Italy during 2016.
According to most up-to-date Italian MOI figures (as of 26 October), 158,205 migrants arrived by sea to Italy this year. An increase of about 13 percent compared to last year, during the same period. Over 8,950 migrants have been rescued in the Channel of Sicily since 24 October.
This total of 333,384 is well below the number of arrivals at this point in 2015, by which 728,926 migrants and refugees had made the journey between 1 January and 31 October.
In Greece, 64 migrant arrivals by sea were registered on 29 and 30 October. According to data collected by IOM staff on the Greek islands, it is being estimated that the migrants that arrived by sea to Greece were approximately 42 percent were men, 21 percent women and 37 percent children, so far in 2016.
