Greece - IOM reports that an estimated 173,761 migrants and refugees have arrived in Italy, Greece, Cyprus and Spain by sea through 11 April 2016. That is an increase of 1,303 arrivals since IOM reported 172,458 arrivals on Friday, 8 April. Just over a thousand landed in Greece, the balance in Italy.
On Saturday, 9 April the Norwegian ship Siem Pilot brought to Taranto, Italy, 294 migrants who sailed from North Africa and were rescued in the Channel of Sicily. Also on Saturday, Greek authorities reported the drowning of at least five migrants arriving from Turkey. Five bodies were recovered off Samos, while five migrants were rescued. Witnesses said that the shipwrecked craft was carrying 14 passengers, leaving four people still missing. That brings this year’s total for lives lost on the Mediterranean Sea to 723.
IOM estimates 153,156 migrants and refugees have crossed into Greece since January 1st, 2016. Crossings from Turkey to the Greek islands have now fallen to approximately 100 a day. On Sunday, 10 April, zero arrivals were recorded in Greece. IOM notes asylum applications are expected to significantly increase as almost all the 3,097 migrants and refugees at the Moria camp on Lesbos have now applied for asylum.
IOM estimates that there are now over 53,000 migrants and refugees stranded in Greece. Most are being accommodated at reception centers in Northern Greece and Attica.
IOM has compiled data on other nationalities’ arrivals as recorded by Greek authorities. Besides the top five nationalities in the chart above, IOM notes that other nationalities included large numbers of Bangladeshis, Moroccans and Palestinians.
IOM notes that the Greek authorities also recorded the arrival of nearly 150 people from the Dominican Republic. Other irregular arrivals since 1 January 2016 have included citizens of Saudi Arabia (10), Lebanon (309), Egypt (292), Somalia (403) and Sri Lanka (132).
For further information please contact IOM Greece. Daniel Esdras, Tel: +30 210 9912174, Email: iomathens@iom.int or
Kelly Namia, Tel: +302109919040, +302109912174, Email: knamia@iom.int
Or Abby Dwommoh at IOM Turkey, Tel: +903124551202, Email: adwommoh@iom.int.
Or Flavio Di Giacomo at IOM Italy, Tel: +39 347 089 8996, Email: fdigiacomo@iom.int
Or Ivona Zakoska at IOM Skopje, Tel. +389 2 30 88 100, Ext. 133 Email: izakoska@iom.int
Or IOM Geneva, Leonard Doyle, Tel: +41-792857123, Email: ldoyle@iom.intor Joel Millman, Tel: + 41 79 103 87 20, Email: jmillman@iom.int