The European Union has registered a strong increase in illegal entry via the Balkan route. Between January and May, the number of illegal border crossings nearly tripled to 40,675 compared to the previous year, the European border security service Frontex announced Monday.
In May alone, there was a doubling to 12,088. The migrants mainly come from Afghanistan and Syria. The EU authority gave no reason for the sharp increase. However, she said most of the migrants coming through the Western Balkans had likely been in the region for a long time and had now made the move.
Ukraine refugees not included
In total, Frontex registered 86,420 illegal border crossings in the first five months of the year, half of which were on the Balkan route. The more than 5.5 million Ukrainian war refugees who have come to the EU since the Russian attack began are reportedly not included in the figures.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
