The number of refugees who died in the Mediterranean decreased in 2018 compared to the previous year – although it remains high. According to the UN, last year there were 2262 migrants drowned in the Mediterranean or reported as missing during their journey. This was reported by the UN refugee agency UNHCR.In the previous year, therefore, 3139 deaths or missing persons were registered. The total number of people crossing the sea to Europe therefore dropped from 172,301 in 2017 to 113,482.
In 2015, more than one million people had reached Europe via the sea. Meanwhile, however, the refugee routes have changed: most of the refugees arrived in Spain in 2018, according to the UNHCR. Previously, Italy and Greece had been the main countries of origin.
In recent months thousands of migrants have been taken to the mainland to relieve the overcrowded reception centers of the Greek islands Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Leros and Kos. Most of them were families, women or unaccompanied minors who are expected to receive asylum in Greece.
According to UNHCR, from early January 2018 until Christmas nearly 32,000 people from Turkey have been transferred to the Greek islands. The situation has eased compared to 2015. At that time, more than 850,000 migrants from Turkey reached the Greek islands.
