Highlights:
March 2016 was marked by the closing of the Balkan route to Europe on March 8 and the implementation of the EU-Turkey Agreement on March 20. These developments have resulted in slowing arrivals to Greece while refugees and other mixed migrants find new ways to enter Europe.
As the Eastern Mediterranean Route closes to refugees and other mixed migrants, arrivals by sea in Greece have continued to decline. In March, 26,971 sea-arrivals were recorded in Greece with an average of 859 people arriving per day, a 46% decline from daily arrivals in February. By the end of March arrival numbers had dwindled to hundreds or less each day.
Ongoing conflict in Syria and significant border closures continue to leave thousands stranded outside both the Turkish and Jordanian borders. In March an estimated 70,000 people were living in camps outside the Turkish-Syrian border, and roughly 57,000 people were stranded on a desert berm outside Syria’s border with Jordan.
This summary of inter and intra-regional displacement and displacement-induced mobility is produced by DRC Middle East and North Africa regional office drawing widely on available sources. It covers events, trends and data for the Middle East region (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Iraq) and is accessible at https://drc.ngo/where-we-work/middle-east-and-north-africa
A note on terminology: Throughout this report the term migrant/refugee is used for all persons involved in mixed migration flows (including asylum seekers, trafficked persons, migrants, refugees) with the exception of Syrians who are recognised as persons in need of international protection. If the group mentioned refers only to refugees or asylum seekers or trafficked persons or migrants it will be clearly stated.