(ANSA) - ROME, DEC 11 - The Central Mediterranean from north
Africa to Italy remained the busiest migratory route in 2023,
with 152,211 detections reported by national authorities in the
first 11 months of the year, European border agency Frontex said
on Monday.
This is a 61% increase over the same period in 2022 and the
highest total on this route for this period since 2016.
However, the number of monthly detections in the Central
Mediterranean to Italy dropped 24% month-on-month in November to
nearly 7,900, the agency added.
The decrease was in line with arrivals on all other routes.
Om the Central Mediterranean route the top three countries of
origin so far this year have been Guinea, Tunisia and Ivory
Coast.
Overall, in the first 11 months of 2023, 355,300 irregular
migrants arrived in the European Union, up 17% over the same
period in 2022 and the highest figure recorded since 2016,
Frontex said.
The biggest rise has been seen on the Western African route to
the Canary Islands, where arrivals more than doubled to reach
32,422.
The top three countries of origin across all routes so far this
year have been Syria, Guinea and Afghanistan. (ANSA).
Central Med still busiest migration route in 2023 - Frontex
Detections increase by 61% over 2022 but arrivals are slowing