In 2016 87% of those arriving by sea to Greece came from the top ten refugee producing countries.

In the last part of 2016, more people reached Europe through the Western Mediterranean route, either by crossing the sea to Spain from Morocco and Algeria, or by entering the Spanish enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta.

Lack of accessible and safe pathways leads refugees and migrants to take enormous risks while attempting to reach Europe.

UNHCR is deeply concerned at a new Hungarian law which foresees the mandatory detention of all asylum seekers, including many children, for the entire length of the asylum procedure.

UNHCR issued eight recommendations to help ensure a sustainable refugee response in Greece.

Joint efforts and strengthened cooperation are crucial to improving the situation for asylum-seekers and refugees in Greece.

Latest shipwreck in the Mediterranean comes as a stark reminder of the vital importance of robust search and rescue capacities.

Saving lives at sea must remain key priority. UNHCR commends the action of the Italian Coast Guard in coordination with Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency.

NGOs provide additional and much needed rescue capacity. In 2016, 26 per cent of all rescue operations in the central Mediterranean were performed by NGOs, more than twice than the previous year.

Physical barriers and restrictive policies in Hungary have resulted in effectively denying access to territory and asylum for those in need of international protection.