Record 137,000 migrants crossed Med in 2015-UNHCR

(ANSA) - Geneva, July 1 - A record number of 137,000 refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean from North Africa in the first six months of 2015, United Nations refugee agency UNHCR said in a report on Wednesday. Most of those people were fleeing war and persecution, the agency said. UNHCR said most of the asylum seekers went to Greece and Italy - 68,000 and 67,500 respectively. The 137,000 figure is 83% higher than the 75,000 who arrived same period in 2014.