A total of 2,561 refugees were located and rescued by the Coast Guard and Frontex as well as a private sailing boat in 69 incidents in the sea regions of Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Agathonissi, Farmakonissi, Kalolimnos, Kos and Megisti in the period from October 16 – 19, 2015.
In the same period, a seven year-old boy, an infant, a sixteen year-old boy, and two women had drowned.
The influx of migrants and refugees into Europe, primarily from the east continues. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had reported on Friday that more than 450,000 migrants and refugees have entered Greece since the beginning of 2015.
Europe is in negotiations with Turkey to tighten cooperation, with the aim of reducing the number of people who cross from Turkish shores into Greece. German Chancellor Angela Merkel noted during a weekend visit to Turkey that Germany could help Turkey accelerate the process of induction into the European Union with visa-free travel for Turkish citizens into the EU, if Turkey accepts refugees from Europe. Turkey has been a candidate for EU membership since 1999.
Greece is one of the first destinations for the vast majority of these new refugee arrivals. Migrants and refugees are currently trying to leave Serbia and Croatia to head further west into Europe. A train that was headed to Slovenia from Croatia on Monday morning was prevented from entering Slovenia by Slovenian authorities. Migrants and refugees trying to enter on foot were also stopped by Slovenian authorities at the border.
(With information from ANA-MPA)
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