The number of migrants arriving in Italy via the central Mediterranean route in January rose to over 4,800, double the previous month, according to the latest figures released on Tuesday 13 February by the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.
In January, 8,300 irregular border crossings were detected on the four main migratory routes into the EU, down 7% from 2017. The numbers in Italy were roughly in line with those in January 2017. According to preliminary data, Eritreans were the largest group of migrants detected on the central Mediterranean route, followed by nationals of Pakistan and Tunisia.
Over the last few months, the former Frontex agency also noted an increase in the number of Libyans making their way across the Mediterranean. In the western Mediterranean, Spain saw a slight respite from the recent record numbers of irregular crossings, which fell by more than a third from December 2017. The number of irregular migrants taking the Eastern Mediterranean route, mainly reaching the Greek islands, fell 43% from the previous month to 1,850. Syrians and Iraqis were the most represented nationalities on this route. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)