A total of 3,198 migrants and refugees have died while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Italy this year.
A report by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) shows that by 7th September, Mediterranean deaths were over 630 more than the 2,656 recorded between 1st January and 31st August 2015.
In the same period, 291,175 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea, almost 60,000 less compared to the same period last year (350,504 up to 30 August).
Since the beginning of the year almost all migrant and refugee landings in the Mediterranean have been to Greece and Italy.
According to data collected by IOM Regional Office in the Greek islands (Lesvos, Samos, Chios and Kalymnos), it is estimated that the migrants arriving in Greece by sea this year, were approximately 42 percent male, 21 percent female and 37 percent children.