Spain takes over 40% of all irregular migrants crossing the Mediterranean

Euronews : Spain has taken just over 40 percent of all irregular migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea into Europe this year, according to the UN Migration Agency. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reports that the number has nearly tripled compared to those registered at this time last year. Spain tops the list of destinations, taking 23,741 migrants via the Mediterranean by the end of July, compared to 8,677 for the same period in 2017.

Arrivals to Italy are now down by over 80 percent compared to 2017, the IOM says. However, the number of people coming to Greece has risen by almost 50 percent, with nearly 5,000 more arrivals than last year’s totals.

However, the overall picture shows a large decrease in the number of migrants and refugees entering Europe by sea. The IOM says 59,271 had arrived by August 5, compared to more than 117,000 at this time last year, and over 263,000 during the same period in 2016.

Euronews