Switzerland - IOM reports that 3,829 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea in 2017, through 25 January, well over two thirds arriving in Italy and the rest in Greece. This compares with 48,029 through the first 25 days of January, 2016.

IOM’s Missing Migrants Project reports 246 estimated deaths at sea on various routes, compared with 210 through the first 25 days of 2016. This 2017 fatalities figure represents almost a reverse of the pattern of casualties from a year ago, when just 20 deaths occurred on the Central Mediterranean Sea route connecting North Africa to Italy and only five deaths occurring off Spain.

In 2016 at this time, 185 deaths were reported on the Eastern route between Turkey and Greece. So far this year the Central Mediterranean route, with 221 deaths, and Spain, with 25, account for almost all the fatalities of migrants or refugees at sea, with just one reported death off Greece, recorded earlier this week.

Among the casualties reported by IOM’s Missing Migrants Projects this week are 16 new deaths confirmed by IOM Libya since January 21. Christine Petré, an IOM press officer for Libya, reported Thursday that on Tuesday, 24 January, 135 migrants were rescued off Tripoli and on that same day 10 bodies were retrieved (8 men, 1 woman and one child) nearby.  She said the previous Saturday, 21 January, five bodies were retrieved off Subratah and another off Tripoli. 

For the month so far, IOM Libya reports the total number of migrants rescued at sea by Libyan authorities or commercial fishermen is 319. The total for bodies recovered in January is 42.

IOM’s Missing Migrant Project notes worldwide deaths through 25 January are 314 men, women and children – a figure that is approximately 25 percent lower than the 403 deaths recorded by the same date in 2016. 

Missing Migrants researcher Kate Dearden points out that much of that data shortfall is based on absence of reports from three deadly migration routes – the Horn of Africa to Arabian Peninsula, the North African routes across the Sahara, and Eastern African routes drawing migrants towards South Africa. For regions where data has been collected through the first three weeks of the year, fatality statistics are either ahead of last year’s levels, or virtually identical.

Moreover, reports this week of the bodies of 14 Haitian migrants discovered off the Turks and Caicos archipelago in the Caribbean Sea may have understated the tragedy. It is now believed that a craft carrying 69 migrants from Haiti foundered with very few survivors. If true there may be dozens of deaths still unaccounted for, which would make January one the deadliest months for migrants plying Caribbean Sea lanes in several years.

WORLDWIDE MIGRANT FATALITIES, BY REGION (2016-2017)

For the latest Mediterranean Update infographic: 
http://migration.iom.int/docs/MMP/170127_Mediterranean_Update.pdf 
For latest arrivals and fatalities in the Mediterranean, please visit: http://migration.iom.int/europe
Learn more about the Missing Migrants Project at: http://missingmigrants.iom.int

For further information please contact:
Joel Millman at IOM Geneva, Tel: +41.79.103 8720, Email: jmillman@iom.int
Flavio Di Giacomo at IOM Italy, Tel: +39 347 089 8996, Email: fdigiacomo@iom.int 
Sabine Schneider at IOM Germany, Tel. +49 30 278 778 17 Email: sschneider@iom.int
IOM Greece: Daniel Esdras, Tel: +30 210 9912174, Email: iomathens@iom.int or Kelly Namia, Tel: +30 210 9919040, +30 210 9912174, Email: knamia@iom.int 
Julia Black at IOM GMDAC, Tel: +49 30 278 778 27, Email: jblack@iom.int
Mazen Aboulhosn at IOM Turkey, Tel: +9031245-51202, Email: maboulhosn@iom.int
IOM Libya: Othman Belbeisi, Tel +216 29 600389, Email: obelbeisi@iom.int or Ashraf Hassan, Tel: +216297 94707, Email: ashassan@iom.int
Hicham Hasnaoui at IOM Morocco, Tel: + 212 5 37 65 28 81, Email: hhasnaoui@iom.int

For information or interview requests in French:
Florence Kim, OIM Genève, Tel: +41 79 103 03 42, Email: fkim@iom.int
Flavio Di Giacomo, OIM Italy, Tel: +39 347 089 8996, Email: fdigiacomo@iom.int