Refugees: Record 218394 Refugees Reached Europe In October, Says United Nations

So far in 2015, there have been 744,175 arrivals by sea and more than 3,400 people have died or gone missing while trying to reach Europe by crossing the Mediterranean – often in unseaworthy and risky boats.

UNHCR said 210,265 people crossed the sea from Turkey to Greece last month, a further 8,129 went from north Africa to Italy in the period to october 29.

“How many drowned refugees and how many dead children are required to activate European values?” said Giorgos Kosmopoulos, head of the organization’s Greek branch.

IOM estimates that more than 200 000 migrants arrived in Greece by sea during October 2015.

Among the more than 600,000 migrants and refugees who have crossed to Greece since the beginning of the year, 94 per cent come from the world’s top ten refugee-producing countries.

“That makes it the highest total for any month to date and roughly the same as the entire total for 2014”, said Edwards.

The worldwide Organisation for Migration (IOM) reported on Tuesday that an estimated 24,000 migrants and refugees reached Greek soil between October 30 and November 1.

The flow of refugees into Europe, however, is still dwarfed by the numbers in Syria’s neighbours.

The figures do not take into account the latest tragedy, with at least 15 migrants and refugees, including six children, drowning off Greece on Sunday when two boats making the hazardous crossing from Turkey capsized.

Greece has been an exceptionally common destination for the refugees – a burden with which the country is grappling.

“It is a new phenomenon that we will have to deal with”.

Fears are now growing for the safety of many of those arriving with winter approaching. Mr Galinos added that he was trying to fast-track procedures so a field next to the main cemetery could be taken over for fresh graves.

Hundreds of thousands of people have made the short but risky crossing from Turkey to Greek islands this year.

Despite the arrival of colder weather and near-gale force winds in certain regions, United Nations officials believe the number of incoming migrants, and the death toll, will only continue to rise.