Over one million sea arrivals reach Europe in 2015
UNHCR figures show over one million refugees and migrants reach Europe by sea in 2015, with almost 4,000 feared drowned.
LESVOS, Greece, Dec 30 (UNHCR) - Over one million refugees and migrants have fled to Europe by sea this year, many on board dangerously inadequate vessels run by people smugglers, according to figures just released by the UN Refugee Agency.
UNHCR's latest figures show that some 1,000,573 people had reached Europe across the Mediterranean, mainly to Greece and Italy, in 2015. Of these, 3,735 were missing, believed drowned.
The landmark figure, which was reached late on December 29, also indicated that 84 per cent of those arriving in Europe came from the world's top 10 refugee producing countries, strengthening UNHCR's belief that most of the people arriving in Europe were fleeing war and persecution.
"Over one million people have landed on Europe's shores, fleeing war and persecution, seeking a better life for their families," said Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR Director of the Bureau for Europe. "Tragically, over 3,700 other children, women and men did not survive the perilous journey by sea and their hope for a fresh start died with them."
"If there were more legal avenues for refugees to reach Europe, perhaps some of those who died at sea could have found peace and safety instead. For the refugees who risked everything and have now safely reached Europe, we hope they will be received in the context of the European values of dignity, solidarity, and human rights, so that they may find their new beginning," Cochetel added.
In addition to the sea crossings, recent figures also estimated that a further 34,000 have crossed from Turkey into Bulgaria and Greece by land.
The number of people displaced by war and conflict is currently the highest seen in Western and Central Europe since the Balkan crises of the 1990s, when several conflicts broke out in the former Yugoslavia.
One-in-every-two of those crossing the Mediterranean this year - half a million people - were Syrians escaping the war in their country. Afghans accounted for 20 per cent and Iraqis for seven per cent.
"As anti-foreigner sentiments escalate in some quarters, it is important to recognize the positive contributions that refugees and migrants make to the societies in which they live and also honour core European values: protecting lives, upholding human rights and promoting tolerance and diversity," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres.
Despite strong winds and choppy waves, on December 30 dozens of families continued to land on the Greek island of Lesvos in overstuffed inflatable boats designed to carry just eight people. One boat arrived carrying 69 refugees from Afghanistan.
"Everybody was traumatised and shaken up from being at sea for so long," said Shirlene Afshar, a UNHCR field protection officer working on Lesvos. "As I was helping people off the boat they were crying but also thankful to have arrived safely."
Over 800,000 refugees and migrants came via the Aegean Sea from Turkey into Greece, accounting for 80 per cent of the people arriving irregularly in Europe by sea this year. At the same time, the number of people crossing from North Africa into Italy dropped slightly, from 170,000 in 2014 to around 150,000 in 2015.
The number of people crossing the Mediterranean increased steadily from around 5,500 in January to reach a monthly peak in October of over 221,000.
After an initial chaotic reaction which resulted in tens of thousands of people moving from Greece through the Western Balkans and northwards, and finding themselves blocked at various borders, a more coordinated European response is beginning to take shape.
UNHCR launched an emergency response to support and complement European efforts. Over 600 emergency staff and resources were deployed to 20 different locations, providing life-saving assistance and protection, and advocating for human rights and access to asylum - particularly for refugees with specific needs, such as unaccompanied children and women-headed households.
Much more needs to be done, however, to reinforce the required reception capacity at the points of entry, to allow for the humane and effective accommodation, assistance, registration and screening of people arriving every day - to identify those who are in need of protection, those that should be relocated to other countries within the European Union, and those who do not qualify for refugee protection and for whom effective and dignified return mechanisms have to be put in place.
At the same time, UNHCR continues to call for safe, regular ways for refugees to find safety through more resettlement and humanitarian admission programmes, more flexible visa arrangements, more private sponsorship programmes and other possibilities.
Link to Media Page.
By Hereward Holland, Lesvos, Greece
Related news and stories
Ukraine's refugees find long-term support in Europe's host countries
Women-run businesses in Afghanistan dealt a blow by deepening restrictions
Earthquake survivors in Türkiye count the devastating toll
Twelve years on, Syrian refugees face deepening debt and hunger
Twelve years on, Syrian refugees face deepening debt and hunger
UNHCR launches new appeal for Afghan refugees and hosts, urging partners to stay the course
Your search for « greece » matched 2816 results. Only the first 1,000 results are displayed. Displaying page 8 of 112 pages.
-
UNHCR warns of growing asylum crisis in Greece and the Western Balkans amid arrivals of refugees from war
10 Jul 2015 ... The number of refugees arriving in the Greek islands continues to rise, averaging 1,000 people daily. Since the beginning of the year, 77,100 people have arrived by sea to Greece (as of 3 July). ...... -
Greek forensics professor finds missing links for grieving families
21 Jun 2018 ... out of the Evros River, which forms most of Greece’s border with Turkey. “Today I was brought ... a further 359 that he examined between 2000 and 2017 – all from the Greek side of the river. ...... -
Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan for Europe - January - December 2016 (Revision of May 2016)
28 Jun 2016 ... the village of Idomeni, Greece. © UNHCR/Achilleas Zavallis 2 REGIONAL PLAN HEADLINES Period January to December 2016 Overview of arrivals 1 856,723 from Turkey to Greece in 2015 156,782 from ...... -
Greek Council for Refugees
27 Oct 2011 ... Address: 26 Solomou Street , Exarhia Athens 10682 Greece Tel: +30 210 3320 000 Fax: +30 210 3803 774 Email: [email protected] Web: www.gcr.gr... -
Greece: From refugee life vest to sleeping aid
14 Jan 2016 ... LESVOS, Greece, Jan 14 (UNHCR) - Vast piles of lifejackets clogging the idyllic beaches of the Greek island of Lesvos are testimony to an often harrowing journey made by thousands of refugees and ...... -
Greece: Facing winter cold, asylum seekers moved off islands
7 Feb 2019 ... Winter on the Greek Aegean Islands brought flooding and freezing temperatures. With the help of UNHCR the family have been given a fresh start on mainland Greece. UNHCR has helped to move thousands of ...... -
UNHCR Country Operations Plan 2003 - Greece
1 Sep 2002 ... Country Operations Plan - Greece Part I: Executive Committee Summary Part I: Executive Committee Summary Breakdown of content (a) Context: Greece being a member state of the European Union, it is ...... -
UNHCR chief says Greece needs EU help to manage its refugee crisis
24 Aug 2016 ... ATHENS, Greece – Greece still faces great challenges in managing its refugee crisis, particularly if European Union countries do not step up their relocation and family reunion programmes, UN High ...... -
UNHCR warns of imminent humanitarian crisis in Greece
1 Mar 2016 ... build-up of people in already over-stretched Greece, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, warned today. ... Edwards added that as of last night (Monday), the number of refugees and migrants in Greece and ......