http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/sections/generalnews/2016/05/13/migrants-frontex-in-italy-many-from-eritrea-egypt-nigeria_d1d612a2-0a58-406a-9fd6-31c1cee43bfe.html
Migrants: Frontex, in Italy many from Eritrea Egypt Nigeria
Inversion Greece-Italy arrivals without signs of route change
13 MAY, 13:25
(ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, MAY 13 - The number of migrant arrivals in Italy in April surpassed that of Greece for the first time since June 2015, with about 2,700 arrivals in Greece (90% less than the previous month) and 8,370 arrivals registered in the central Mediterranean, said Frontex on Friday.
The inversion between Greece and Italy came about despite the fact that the 8,370 arrivals registered in the central Mediterranean represent a 13% decrease compared to March data and a 50% decrease compared to one year ago, Frontex said.
It said the majority of migrant arrivals in Italy are Eritrean, Egyptian and Nigerian, and "there aren't signs of a significant movement of migrants from the western Mediterranean route", that is, the route that passes through Greece.
"There was a drastic reduction of arrivals on the Greek islands," said Frontex director Fabrice Leggeri.
April arrivals "are well under the number of people that we have often seen arrive daily on the island of Lesbos during the peak months of the past year".
According to Frontex, the drop is due to various factors, first among which is the EU-Turkey agreement, but also more checks put into place by Macedonia along its borders with Greece. That said, Syrians are still the majority of those who continue to arrive in Greece, followed by Pakistanis, Afghans and Iraqis. (ANSAmed).
Received on Fri May 13 2016 - 13:30:23 EDT