1530 migrants and refugees from Africa have died in Mediterranean sea - UN Migration Agency

The UN Migration Agency (IOM) said on Friday 26th May that one thousand five hundred and thirty (1,530) African migrants and refugees have so far died while crossing the Mediterranean sea, a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land in 2017.

Speaking at the daily news briefing, Stephane Dujarric the spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, made the disclosure while giving the UN Migration Agency report.

According to Stephane Dujarric,  60,521 migrants and refugees have entered Europe through sea this year, with over 80 percent arriving Italy and the remaining 20% divided between Greece, Cyprus and Spain.

‘This number does not include some 6,000 people who have been rescued over the past 72 hours,” said Stephane Dujarric.

‘In terms of fatalities, there have been 1,530 migrants and refugees who have been reported dead this year on this route, a figure that roughly matches those for 2016 for the same period, he added

'However, the UN Migration Agency warned that the deadliest season is starting right now, said the spokesman.