Over 141,000 refugees enter Europe in 2016

ANKARA (AVRUPA TIMES)-More than 141,000 refugees have reached Europe by sea so far this year, according to the International Organization of Migration.

The organization said in a statement Tuesday that 9,294 refugees crossed into Italy and 131,847 others into Greece through the Mediterranean between Jan. 1, 2016 and March 7, 2016.

A total of 443 people died during their trips within the same period in the Mediterranean.

Most refugees, who arrive in Greece and Italy, were Syrians, who continue to flee their country due to an ongoing civil war.

Almost half of the refugees who arrived in Greece are Syrians, while others are Afghans and Iraqis.

According to the data compiled by Anadolu Agency, refugees who arrive in Italy and Greece, usually head towards other Europe destinations, especially Germany.

A total of 153,099 refugees applied for asylum in Germany within the first two months of the year; 6,929 refugees took refuge in Sweden; 5,500 in the Netherlands; 1,620 in Denmark; 1,019 in Finland and 92 in Norway since Jan. 1, 2016.

Germany

Nearly 127,000 people entered Germany in 2013; 202,000 in 2014; while one million others went there in 2015. Moreover, 91,671 refugees arrived in Germany in January, 2016 and another 61,428 in February, 2016.

Syrians, Afghans, Iraqis, Albanians, as well as Iranians are among those who are heading towards Germany.

France

A total of 26,700 people out of 79,100 who applied for asylum got accepted in France in 2015.

France decided on Monday to open its doors to a group of 148 refugees.

UK

The U.K. accepted 1,337 Syrian refugees between January 2014 and December 2015.

Austria

Almost 90,000 refugees applied for asylum in the country in 2015, according to the Austrian Interior Ministry. However, 7,424 refugee applications were not granted and the asylum seekers were later repatriated.

In January 2016, a total of 5,928 applied for asylum in Austria and only 878 of them were accepted in the country.

Austria accepts only 80 refugees per day.

North Europe

A total of 163,000 people, including 51,338 Syrians, took refuge in Sweden in 2015. Also, 6,929 refugees arrived in Sweden so far this year.

A total of 21,815 people applied for asylum in Denmark last year; 8,604 of them were Syrians. Also, 1,620 refugees entered the country this year.

A total of 31,145 people applied for asylum in Norway in 2015; one third of them were Syrians. Also, 92 people took refuge in Norway this year, eight of whom were Syrians.

A total of 32,476 refugees, including 877 Syrians applied for asylum in Finland last year; 1,019 people applied for asylum in 2016, out of whom 66 were Syrians.

Last year, 59,100 refugees arrived in the Netherlands, while 5,500 people applied for asylum this year.

Baltic States

Six people each applied for asylum in Lithuania and Latvia in 2015, while Estonia did not take any refugee.

Bulgaria

Only 940 out of more than 10,000 refugees, who arrived in Bulgaria, stayed in the country, according to the Bulgarian government.

Death toll in 2015

According to the International Organization of Migration, more than a million refugees crossed into Europe via the sea last year; 3,735 people died trying to cross it.

More than 12,000 refugees continue to wait at the Macedonian border in hopes of reaching Western Europe.