An article in Euronews, entitled “Is Bulgaria’s Border Wall Forcing Migrants to Risk Deadly Crossings?”, states that the numbers of migrants illegally entering Greece and Bulgaria by land from Turkey have decreased over the last two years after both countries increased border security. The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), however, is concerned that this has made migrants try “more dangerous routes.”

UNHCR spokesman William Spindler said the number of migrants taking the sea route has increased. “The Mediterranean route is probably the most dangerous route in the world,” he said. “In our view, by closing all the possible routes for them to come, you just make them try more dangerous routes.”

Figures released by the UNHCR to Euronews show that Greece had 30,000 arrivals through its border with Turkey in 2012 but numbers dropped to 1,122 after 2012 as a result of improved security. Migrants to Bulgaria were at 11,524 in 2013 but entranced nearly halved after the country finished a new border. Instead, migrants arriving by sea to Italy rose from 13,300 in 2012 t 170,000 last year.