IOM says 2015 sees the biggest migration flow since World War II
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported last week that over a million refugees and irregular migrants arrived in Europe in 2015.
IOM says it is the biggest migration flow since World War II.
The vast majority - over 970,000 - crossed the Mediterranean Sea, compared to just over 34,000 coming by land.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that half of those crossing the Mediterranean this year were Syrians, twenty per cent were Afghans and seven per cent were Iraqis.
The numbers crossing the Mediterranean increased from around 5,500 in January to reach a peak of over 221,000 in October.
According to IOM, more than 820,000 migrants or refugees arrived in Greece this year. Italy saw 150,000 arrivals.
UNHCR says that much more needs to be done to reinforce the required reception capacity at the points of entry, to allow for the humane and effective accommodation, assistance, registration and screening of people arriving to identify those who are in need of protection.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres called for tolerance and recognition of the contribution refugees make, saying: "As anti-foreigner sentiments escalate in some quarters, it is important to recognize the positive contributions that refugees and migrants make to the societies in which they live and also honour core European values: protecting lives, upholding human rights and promoting tolerance and diversity."
IOM Director General William Lacy Swing drew attention to those who had died attempting the journey to Europe, saying: "We know migration is inevitable, necessary and desirable … But it's not enough to count the number of those arriving - or the nearly 4,000 this year reported missing or drowned. We must also act. Migration must be legal, safe and secure for all - both for the migrants themselves and the countries that will become their new homes."
Meanwhile, UNHCR reported earlier on December 18th that 2015 is likely to exceed all previous records for global forced displacement.
According to UNHCR's Mid-Year Trends report (available here), 2015 is on track to see worldwide forced displacement exceeding 60 million for the first time, meaning 1 in every 122 humans is today someone who has been forced to flee their home.
António Guterres said: "Forced displacement is now profoundly affecting our times. It touches the lives of millions of our fellow human beings – both those forced to flee and those who provide them with shelter and protection. Never has there been a greater need for tolerance, compassion and solidarity with people who have lost everything."
As of mid-2015, UNHCR says that asylum applications were up 78 per cent (993,600) over the same period in 2014.