Geneva, August 24 (RHC)-- The influx of migrants to the European Union from Africa, the Middle East, and South Asia is on the rise as they venture across the Mediterranean Sea and the Balkans in hope of living a better life. According to the International Organization for Migration, the IOM, most of the migrants are refugees, risking their lives as they are crammed on overcrowded boats by human-traffickers and left at the mercy of rough waters.

Over 1,750 migrants have perished in the Mediterranean since the start of 2015, registering a 30-fold rise year on year, according to the IOM. The organization has warned that, based on current figures, the migrant death toll on the Mediterranean this year could top 30,000.

"IOM now fears that the 2014 total of 3,279 migrant deaths may be surpassed this year in a matter of weeks," the group said in a statement. According to EU statistics, hundreds of thousands of migrants -- many fleeing war and persecution in countries like Syria -- have poured into the 28-member EU this year alone.

According to the EU border control agency, Frontex, 107,500 migrants were waiting for entry at EU borders last month alone. Earlier this year, the EU approved $2.6 billion in funding to help member states cope with the overflow of migrants.

More than 1,500 mostly Syrian refugees, trapped in no-man's land for three days, entered Macedonia from Greece on Saturday.