European migrant crisis: 18 asylum seekers drown off Turkish coast

Greece feels overwhelmed, the point of entry for 800,000.

At least 13 people including seven children, drowned when their overloaded boat capsized in the Aegean, police said Wednesday, the latest tragedy involving migrants seeking a better life in Europe, according to Agence France-Presse.

At least 3,600 refugees died this year in the journey to seek asylum in Europe. "It's necessary and it's desirable", he said, adding: "Migration must be legal, safe and secure for all - both for the migrants themselves and the countries that will become their new home".

The spokesperson said another 20 per cent were Afghans, and 7 percent were Iraqis.

Over the year the number of people crossing the Mediterranean increased steadily from around 5,500 in January to a monthly peak in October of over 221,000.

Eight migrants including children have drowned near the Aegean city of Izmir, the Turkish coast guard said. Germany has seen around 1 million migrants arrive this year, but that figure includes large numbers of people from eastern European countries who could be sent back.

The wooden boat tipped over near the town of Dikili, which lies directly opposite the Greek Island of Lesbos, the destination for thousands of refugees trying to reach Europe.

Its neighbor, Greece, which is a gateway to the European Union, is also trying to rebuff criticism that it has done too little to manage the people arriving on its shores.

Swing said the war in Syria was only one among many causes, including Ebola and Boko Haram in West Africa, an quake in Nepal, conflicts in Libya, Yemen, South Sudan, Central African Republic and Afghanistan and Iraq. However, according to a report there was little evidence of progress since Turkey signed the "action plan". The second highest number of arrivals with a total of150, 317 arrived in Italy.

The 37-year-old Syrian man was wanted in connection with the drowning of five Syrians in bad weather during their passage on an overcrowded boat from Turkey to Greece in April.

As the number of people fleeing to Europe passes one million, Oxfam is calling on the worldwide community to address what is a global crisis.

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