European Union gets 1 million migrants in 2015, smugglers seen making $1 bln

The new figures, jointly released by the UNHCR and the International Organization for Migration, listed migrant arrivals in six European countries since January 1, with the vast majority 821,008 landing in Greece.

Half of those arriving this year were Syrians escaping the war-torn country, while another 20 percent were Afghans, and 7 percent were Iraqis, the agencies said in the report.

The war in Syria was particularly key in driving up the numbers of people moving into Europe.

This means that 400 more people lost their lives compared to past year while reports indicate that the number of fatalities is continuing to rise as 20 new deaths in the eastern Mediterranean have been registered since December 18.

Germany, the most economically powerful country in the European Union, has led the way in extending a welcome to migrants, becoming the destination of choice for many entering Europe.

Greek authorities say a small plastic boat carrying migrants from Turkey to Europe has sunk off an eastern Greek islet drowning at least 13, mostly children.

More people – 221,000 – crossed the Mediterranean in October of 2015, the busiest month for migration into Europe, than in the whole of 2014. We must also act.

The total includes both refugees, who fled their homes because of war and persecution, and other migrants, who left their native countries for work.

More than 800,000 have entered through Greece, 150,000 through Italy, and almost 30,000 through Bulgaria, according to the organization’s statistics. IOM is assisting governments in the Middle East, Africa, the Balkans and elsewhere to care for the thousands of men, women and children who have been part of 2015’s historic migration, and will continue to offer assistance to migrants and governments in the coming year. A total of 3,692 migrants died or disappeared crossing the sea, IOM said.

Hungary and Slovakia are taking legal action at the European Court of Justice to challenge EU plans to share asylum seekers across EU states.

“If we are creative in using our visa policies to give temporary protective status to everyone so there is a measure of support there… then I think it is a manageable proposition”, he said.

This marked a slight decline from 2014, when 170,000 people landed in Italy after crossing the Mediterranean from North Africa.