6million migrants ‘await chance to cross into Europe’

MORE than six million asylum seekers are waiting to cross into Europe, a leaked intelligence report warns.

The report, leaked to German newspaper Bild, claims 6.6million migrants are waiting in countries around the Mediterranean Sea.

This year has seen record numbers of African migrants making the perilous journey across the Mediterranean, with Italy the frontline of the crisis.

The surge has led to more than 1,200 deaths so far this year.

Charities have warned that there could be even higher numbers making the crossing in the coming months.

The report, which is yet to be verified, warns the number waiting to cross into Europe has risen by 650,000 since January – an increase of 12 per cent.

One million are living in Libya, it says, while around 3.3million of the total are in Turkey.

Of these, nearly 3million are Syrians, including more than 1.3million children, while the other 310,000 are mostly from Iraq and Afghanistan, according to UNICEF.

According to the report, 1million are in Egypt, 430,000 in Algeria, 160,000 in Tunisia, and 50,000 in Morocco.

Others are waiting in transit countries, with up to 720,000 in Jordan.

This year the number attempting the crossing has risen by 42 per cent – 44,222 compared to 31,205.