GENEVA: The number of migrants and refugees arriving in Italy and Greece since the start of the year has risen sharply compared to the same period 2015 and hundreds are stranded at European borders due to rising restrictions, aid agencies said today.
At least 102,500 people have landed on Greek islands including Samos, Kos and Lesbos this year, and 7,500 in Italy, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement.
"We've reached that figure in two months as opposed to last year when it was reached by the summer," IOM spokesman Itayi Viriri told a news briefing.
In a separate statement, the United Nations refugee agency called on European countries to take a "unified approach" and denounced restrictions limiting access for asylum seekers, including some based on nationality.
Referring to caps imposed by Austria and Slovenia, the UNHCR said: "These newest restrictive measures risk violating EU law and undermine efforts for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to deal with the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe."
"And yet, with every passing week, it appears some European countries are focusing on keeping refugees and migrants out more than on responsibly managing the flow and working on common solutions," read the statement.
Austria and Slovenia's daily cap on asylum seekers and their joint restrictions with the other three countries had left nearly 700 people, mainly Afghans, barred from crossing from Macedonia into Serbia, UNHCR said.
More than 410 have died so far this year at sea, mostly on the route from Turkey to Greece, the IOM said.
At least 102,500 people have landed on Greek islands including Samos, Kos and Lesbos this year, and 7,500 in Italy, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said in a statement.
"We've reached that figure in two months as opposed to last year when it was reached by the summer," IOM spokesman Itayi Viriri told a news briefing.
In a separate statement, the United Nations refugee agency called on European countries to take a "unified approach" and denounced restrictions limiting access for asylum seekers, including some based on nationality.
A photo taken from the Macedonian side of the border shows Afghan migrants fleeing the Greek police alongside the wired fence on the Macedonian-Greek border. (AFP Photo)
Referring to caps imposed by Austria and Slovenia, the UNHCR said: "These newest restrictive measures risk violating EU law and undermine efforts for a comprehensive and coordinated approach to deal with the refugee and migrant crisis in Europe."
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"And yet, with every passing week, it appears some European countries are focusing on keeping refugees and migrants out more than on responsibly managing the flow and working on common solutions," read the statement.
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Austria and Slovenia's daily cap on asylum seekers and their joint restrictions with the other three countries had left nearly 700 people, mainly Afghans, barred from crossing from Macedonia into Serbia, UNHCR said.
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More than 410 have died so far this year at sea, mostly on the route from Turkey to Greece, the IOM said.
© Thomson Reuters 2016
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