Migrant, refugee sea arrivals in Greece surpass 45,000 this year: IOM

With 45,361 migrants and refugees reaching Greece by sea since the beginning of 2016, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported Tuesday that this represents around 31 times the 1,472 arrivals recorded for the whole of January 2015.

Statistics reveal that 90 percent of registered maritime arrivals hail from either Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan, the three countries whose fleeing nationals are allowed to freely cross the Greek-Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia border in view of reaching Western Europe.

With such a high number of people reaching Greek shores and winter weather conditions compounding hazardous sea crossings, IOM reported that the Mediterranean death toll is also rising.

As of January 25, 177 people have lost their lives while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea, mostly on the Eastern Mediterranean route separating Turkey and Greece where 158 have died so far this year.

A further 19 people have perished on the Central Mediterranean passage linking North Africa and Italy.

Most of this year's EU sea arrivals (47,214) have been registered in Greece (45,361), followed by Italy where 1,853 migrants and refugees have arrived.