Mediterranean migrant deaths reach 374; Arrivals in Greece top 68,000 in 2016

Greece - IOM estimates that Mediterranean migrant and refugee arrivals in Italy and Greece reached 74,676 through February 4th.

The first four days of February saw 7,483 arrivals—surpassing the 6,834 recorded for the entire month of February in 2015.

Since the beginning of 2016, IOM estimates that 68,778 migrants and refugees have reached the Greek islands. Of these roughly 44 % were men, 22 % women and 34 % children.

Due to a ferry strike in late January, many were stranded for days on several islands. Once ferries resumed operations, an estimated 14,785 migrants and refugees arrived at the mainland ports of Piraeus and Kavala between February 1st – February 4th.

IOM Greece also reports an unprecedented level of interest in its European Union-funded Assisted Voluntary Return and Reintegration programme, which helps migrants to safely return home, if they so choose. Some 1,600 people have already registered for the scheme in 2016, 710 have already departed and over 400 are expected to leave in the next two weeks. Of the 710 who have already left, 70% were Moroccan, 9% Iranian, 8% Georgian and 2% Bangladeshi.

Meanwhile IOM Rome reported Thursday that 117 migrants were rescued at sea and brought to Messina in past 24 hours. Since the beginning of February, 625 migrants have been rescued at sea and brought to Italian ports.

IOM Germany forwarded Friday new statistics on asylum applications and arrivals for Germany for January 2016, as released by the German Ministry of Interior on Thursday (4/02.)

A total of 52,103 persons applied for asylum in Germany in January 2016 (50,532 initial asylum applications, 1,571 subsequent applications.) This is an increase of 108.1% compared to January 2015 and an increase of 7.9% compared to the previous month. In 2015, a total of 476,649 persons applied for asylum in Germany. Top countries of origin were Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Albania, Iran, Serbia, Pakistan and Eritrea.

For the latest Mediterranean Update infographic please go to: http://missingmigrants.iom.int/sites/default/files/Mediterranean_Update_05_February_2016.pdf

For latest arrivals and fatalities in the Mediterranean,please visit: http://migration.iom.int/europe Learn more about Missing Migrants Project at: http://missingmigrants.iom.int