Migrants Continue to Flow into Greece, Balkans

An estimated 28,000 migrants and refugees crossed into Greece from Friday (30/10) toSunday (01/11), according to Hellenic Police figures. Some 10,842 arrived on October 30th, 8,998 on October 31st, 4,292 on November 1st and 3,787 on November 2nd.

According to IOM staff, the disparity can be attributed to the winter weather and rough seas, which are reducing the number of days that migrants can safely travel from Turkey.

Numbers of migrants and refugees leaving the country are also influenced by the days of the week on which ferries leave the Aegean islands for Athens and Kavala.

A 2-day strike by the Panhellenic Maritime Federation yesterday and today (2-3/11) will reduce flows from the islands to the mainland.