Migration

30% Increase in Illegal Border Crossings at EU’s External Borders in November

The number of persons who attempted to cross Europe’s external borders illegally has marked a 30 per cent increase, in November, compared to the previous month, reaching about 22,800, the latest report of the European Union Protection Border Agency Frontex has pointed out.

According to the report, 8 per cent decrease was recorded in the number of illegal border crossings at Europe’s external borders, during the first 11 months of this year, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

The latest Frontex’s figures indicate that the main reason that provoked such a decrease is the drop in the number of arrivals in Eastern as well as Western Mediterranean routes, while the Western African way registered a record number of irregular migrants.

Up to 8,150 irregular migrants have entered the Canary Islands during November compared to 517 registered the previous year. November’s figures mark the highest monthly total for this road since Frontex began to report data in 2009.

About 19,600 persons were caught attempting to reach the Canary Islands unlawfully, in November. The majority of them have been registered since the beginning of August.

Nationals of Sub-Saharan countries and citizens of Morocco were detected the most in this road, through which they attempted to enter Europe irregularly.

Nationals from sub-Saharan countries and Morocco marked the highest number of arrivals in this zone.

In the Central Mediterranean route, there has been a 61 per cent increase in the number of international who attempted to enter Europe through this direction, in November, and 5,400 increase compared to the previous month.

“In the first 11 months of this year, the total number of illegal crossings on this route more than doubled to nearly 34 200. Tunisians have accounted for two out of every five illegal crossings via the Central Mediterranean, while Bangladeshis were responsible for one in five,” the statement reads.

As for the Western Mediterranean road, there have been nearly 1,450 persons who sought to enter this road illegally, in November.

“The total for the first 11 months of 2020 stood at close to 15,900, or 29 per cent less than in the same period in the previous year,” the statement reads.

Citizens coming from Algeria, together with those coming from Moroccans were detected the most in this road.

About 750 detections of persons who wished to enter Europe illegally through the Eastern Mediterranean route, in November, less than half the figure compared to October.

Syrians, Afghans, and Turkey nationals accounted for the largest number of persons detected at this route.

As for the Western Balkan, there were registered 3,200 persons who tried to illegally cross the border to enter Europe, during last month, or 16 per cent decrease compared to October figures.

“In the first 11 months of this year, nearly 23 300 migrants were detected at the EU’s border with the Western Balkan countries, more than double the total from the first 11 months of 2019,” Frontex has revealed.

About 60 per cent of irregular migrants detected in this territory were Syrian, while 20 per cent of them Afghans.

In October, the number of persons who sought to enter Europe in an unlawful way, through its external borders recorded a 19 per cent decrease, compared to September figures.