The latest data concerning migrant traffic to Greece is shocking as coastal guards gathered 55,000 irregular migrants in July alone and another 32,000 people in June.
Islands like Mytilene (Lesbos), capital of the North Aegean region, face huge problems. The island tallied 88,000 people in its most recent population count.
Figures for July
– 54,889 irregular migrants were gathered from 748 operations carried out by the Greek coastal guard
– 158 sea vessels were gathered
– 47 human traffickers arrested
In June there were 517 operations and rescues that resulted in 31,318 irregular immigrants entering Greece. 26 human traffickers were arrested and 129 vessels were confiscated.
The government had expected 100,000 irregular immigrants for 2015, but the figures for summer surpass these expectations. Coastal guard sources point to 3.5 million Syrian refugees that have gathered at camps around Turkey.
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