ANKARA
The number of migrants rescued in the Aegean Sea has reached 3,947 since the beginning of the year, a three-fold increase compared to the same period last year, the Turkish Coast Guard Command has said.
The increase came as thousands of migrants fleeing conflict, instability and economic hardship in the Middle East and Africa continue to use Turkey as both a transit area and destination, officials said on Tuesday.
Turkish Coast Guard Command officials said, since the start of 2015, the service had responded to 139 incidents in the Aegean - one of the main routes used to reach Europe - and seized 10 human traffickers.
About 1,500 migrants were rescued in the sea in the same period last year.
Coast guards saved 12,884 migrants in 529 incidents in the Aegean during 2014 and captured 72 human traffickers.
In 2013, 6,937 migrants were recovered while 2,531 were rescued in 2012 in Aegean.
Migrants entering Turkey using illegal methods are taken by traffickers to western Turkish provinces like Istanbul and Izmir and some are later taken to Greece and Bulgaria via the Maritsa River or on foot.
Migrants are also taken to Greek islands or directly to Greece or Italy from the Turkish provinces of Izmir, Balikesir, Canakkale, Aydin and the Mugla coast on overcrowded boats.
Most of the migrants are Syrian, Myanmarese or Afghans.
It is estimated each migrant pays $10,000 for the journey.
