Press Release: Irregular Migrant, Refugee Arrivals in Europe Top One Million in 2015: IOM

The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) announced on the 21 December 2015 that over a million irregular migrants and refugees arrived in Europe in 2015, mostly from Syria, Africa and South Asia. The total was the highest migration flow since World War II.

The vast majority of migrants have arrived by sea and the majority of those have landed in Greece, as well as Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Malta and Cyprus. This year’s total of migrant/refugee deaths stood at 3,692 on the 21 December 2015.

IOM chief, William Lacy Swing, said in a statement on the 22 December 2015 that it 'wasn't enough' to count the numbers. 'We must also act. Migration must be legal, safe and secure for all - both the migrants themselves, and the countries that will become their new home'.

• Primary Source

The Guardian, 22.12.15: One million migrants and refugees have reached Europe this year – IOM http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/dec/22/one-million-migrants-and-refugees-have-reached-europe-this-year-iom

BBC News, 22.12.15: Migrant crisis: 'One million enter Europe in 2015' http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35158769

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

IOM: Migration Flows - Europe http://migration.iom.int/europe/

Deutsche Welle, 22.12.15: Report: One million migrants and refugees reach Europe in 2015 http://dw.com/p/1HRa0

Politico, 22.12.15: Number of migrants to Europe tops 1 million in 2015 http://www.politico.eu/article/number-of-migrants-to-europe-tops-1-million-in-2015/

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