New year brings over 4,000 refugees to Europe: UN body

By Busra Nur Bilgic

ANKARA (AA) - The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Friday that 4,216 irregular migrants and refugees have reached Europe by sea in the first 16 days of 2019.

During the same period last year 2,365 refugees and migrants entered Europe, according to the UN migration agency.

"Deaths on the three main Mediterranean Sea routes through these first 16 days of January are at 83 individuals, compared with 199 deaths during the same period in 2018," IOM said.

Some 30,510 migrants died between 2014 and 2018 while making the treacherous journey to Europe, the UN agency reported last week.

"In addition to the 19,000+ deaths and disappearances recorded due to drowning, another 3,800 individuals died due to harsh natural conditions en route -- including exposure, dehydration, and exhaustion -- or due to sickness combined with lack of access to medicines,’’ IOM stated.