The number of people caught trying to enter the EU irregularly dropped last year to its lowest level in seven years, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency reported.
An estimated 124,000 irregular crossings were registered by Frontex in 2020, the lowest amount since 2013.
Most people trying to enter last year were Syrians, followed by Tunisians, Algerians and Moroccans. Over 80% of them were men.
The number of attempted entries via the eastern Mediterranean, which mostly involves crossings from Turkey to the Greek islands, dropped by 76%, to around 20,000.
In contrast, the number of crossings from countries in northern Africa across the central Mediterranean, usually to Italy or Malta, almost tripled to 35,600, making it the most active migratory route in Europe.
Lesvos to be cleared of irregular migrants by Easter 2021
All the illegal immigrants who are in Lesvos today will have left by Easter 2021, Greek Minister of Civil Protection Michalis Chrysochoidis told The Guardian last year.
“They will all leave. Of the roughly 12,000 refugees here currently, I foresee 6,000 being transferred to the mainland by Christmas and the rest by Easter. The people of this island have gone through a lot. They’ve been very patient,” Chrysochoidis said.
SOURCE: Greek City Times
