The number of migrants arriving in Germany declined steeply in April following the closure of a much-used route through the Balkans.
About 16,000 migrants entered Germany in April, according to official figures. This was nearly 25% under the 20,000 recorded in March and a far cry from the 120,000 new arrivals who reached Germany in December.
Syrians remained the largest group, followed by Afghanis and Iraqis.
Germany is widely reported to have accepted more than one million refugees last year, but officials have subsequently reported that the more accurate number was around 800,000. The discrepancy was due to some amount of double counting as well as the departures of some migrants who repatriated themselves.
Since the mass arrivals of last year, Germany has resumed some temporary border control measures. This, coupled with border closures in March by a number of Balkan countries and an agreement with Turkey, has resulted in rapidly dwindling migrant numbers.
The EU pact with Turkey aims to stop refugees undertaking the risky boat route to Greece. Turkey has agreed to take back any who arrive in Greece after 20 March. For every Syrian returned to Turkey, Europe has vowed to accept one from Turkey’s vast refugee camps.
