‘Number of migrants crossing Med to Europe in 2016 passes 300,000’

Geneva (AFP) – More than 300,000 migrants have crossed the Mediterranean to Europe so far this year — far fewer than the 520,000 who arrived during the first nine months of 2015, the UN said Tuesday.

“The number of refugees and migrants reaching European shores this year passed the 300,000 mark today,” William Spindler, spokesman for the UN refugee agency, told reporters.