This picture shows migrants in a rubber dinghy out in the Mediterranean sea waiting to be rescued. At least 663 migrants and refugees have died in the Mediterranean in an attempt to reach Europe this year until now.
The total number of arrivals by this route to Europe grew to 29,369 as of April 2, according to the latest data released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Over 80 percent of the arrivals were registered in Italy (24,513), with the remainder being in Greece (3,856) and Spain (1,000). In Italy the number of migrant landings since the beginning of 2017 was close to the 25,000 mark, according the IOM's spokesman in Italy, Flavio Di Giacomo. The total number of arrivals last year on the central Mediterranean route that connects North Africa and Italy was 181,436. If the current trends continue, the total number of arrivals for 2017 could surpass 200,000 for the first time since the start of the current emergency.
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