In the first four months of this year the number of detections of illegal border crossings by migrants at EU?’s external borders reached nearly 80,700, nearly 30% more than a year ago and the highest total for the January-April period since 2016, according to figures released by European Border and Coast Guard Agency, Frontex, Monday.
The number of illegal border crossings into the ERU across the Central Mediterranean in the first four months of 2023 quadrupled from the same period a year earlier, rising to the highest level since 2009, even as entries on all other major routes declined from a year ago, it noted in a press release.
Organised crime groups are taking advantage of political volatility in some departure countries to increase the number of migrants they smuggle across EU borders, it said.
Although Syrians were the most frequently detected nationality so far this year, with 17% of the total on all migratory routes, their numbers have been mostly falling in recent months in favour of nationals from Sub-Saharan countries.
The number of Ivorians rose eightfold and detentions of citizens of Guinea quintupled. Detections of Afghan citizens fell by just over half, it added.
Source: Kuwait News Agency
