A total of 4,650 persons have attempted to illegally cross Europe’s external borders in February, about half the figure compared to the same month one year ago, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex)  has revealed.

The statement reveals that about a 40 percent decrease has been marked in the number of citizens who sought to enter Europe in an unlawful way, in the first two months of 2021, compared to last year figures, to 12,000, StudyinPoland.Info reports.

The main reason motivating such a decrease is the decline in the number of arrivals in the Eastern and Western Mediterranean, based on preliminary calculations.

In the Canary Islands, there have been identified some 150 irregular migrants in February or a third of the total from February 2020.

“In the first two months of the year, 2,200 irregular migrants arrived on the Canary Islands, twice the total from the same period of 2020,” the statement reads.

Citizens from sub-Saharan countries, especially from Mali and Ivory Coast, made the most significant number of arrivals.

The number of persons who attempted to cross the Central Mediterranean road doubled in February compared to a year ago figures (about 3,300).

This year, illegal border crossing attempts on the Central Mediterranean road increased by 26 percent to 4,300 during January and February. Citizens of Tunisia and the Ivory Coast have been detected the most in this route.

About 600 persons sought to enter Europe through the Western Mediterranean road in February, or a 52 percent decrease compared to the same month in 2020.

Nationals coming from Algeria accounted for three of every five detections on this route during this year, while citizens of Morocco made up most of the remaining arrivals.

Nearly 700 detections of persons have tried to reach Europe through the Eastern Mediterranean route in February, or an 80 percent decrease compared to figures of the same month one year ago. The majority of attempts have been identified at the land border.

During the first two months of 2021, the total number of detections decreased by 80 percent, to about 1,600.

Syrians and citizens of Turkey were interested the most to enter Europe through the Eastern Mediterranean way.

“There were around 400 detections of illegal border crossings reported so far on the Western Balkan route in February. The final figure will likely be higher,” Frontex’s report highlights.

In January and February this year, about 2,600 persons were detected at the Western Balkan road, about half the total compared to the same period of 2020. Citizens of Syria and Afghanistan were seen the most on the Western Balkan route.

Frontex previously reported the number of persons detected at the European Union external border continues to decline due to the Coronavirus pandemic situation. The report highlighted an about 50 percent decrease in all Mediterranean routes.