Dushanbe, 10.06.2016 /NIAT “Khovar”/. Some 2,856 migrants and refugees have drowned this year crossing the Mediterranean Sea to reach Europe, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) indicated on Friday, Xinhua reports.

This figure stands at over 1,000 more fatalities compared to 2015’s mid-year total, when 1,838 deaths were recorded through the first six months of the year.

While the death toll is substantially higher this year, many more migrants have reached European shores in 2016 compared to a year ago.

IOM statistics show that 207,260 migrants have landed in Europe since January, up from 146,083 arrivals registered between Jan. 1 and June 30 last year.

Most of this year’s arrivals have entered Europe via Greek islands, where 157,119 migrants hailing mainly from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq have been documented.