A Bundeswehr ship patrolling the Mediterranean Sea rescued 84 men, two women, 15 children and a baby from an inflatable dingy, Germany's Defense Ministry said on Thursday.

The people were brought aboard the German frigate "Mecklenburg-Vorpommern" and taken to the Sicilian coastal city of Messina.

The dingy, meanwhile, was regarded as a potential obstacle for subsequent sea travel and sunk by the military.

Read more: European rights chief questions Italy's migrant deals with Libya

The German navy has been patrolling the Mediterranean crossing from northern Africa into Europe since May 2015 as part of an EU mission dubbed "Sophia." In that time, German troops have rescued some 22,000 migrants trying to make it across from Libya to Italy.

As Europe scrambles to stem the flow migrants arriving on its shores, data published by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN's migration agency, has reported a drop in the number of migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. Compared to the 273,000 migrants that landed between January and August 2016, only about 121,000 arrived during the same period this year.

Watch video 00:56 Stranded migrants rescued from rocks off Turkish coast

Dramatic rescue in the Aegean Sea caught on film

In a dramatic few days of sea missions, the Turkish coast guard on Thursday said it had rescued 51 migrants stranded on some rocks in the middle of Aegean Sea.

According to officials, the migrants had attempted to illegally cross into Greece from the Turkish province of Izmir.

Dramatic footage of the operation showed a rescue helicopter using a rope to lift people off the rocks. The coast guard said in a statement that five children and a woman were rescued by airlift, while the others were taken onto guard boats and taken back to the port town of Dikili.

The stranded migrants had reportedly tried to cross the Aegean Sea into Greece from the Turkish coastal province of Izmir.

While no information was given regarding the migrants' nationality, more than 3.3 million Syrian refugees currently live in Turkey.

Read more: Greece: Refugees living in limbo

During the height of the 2015 migrant crisis, more than a million people fleeing the war in Syria crossed from Turkey to European Union member Greece, marking the greatest migration crisis seen on the continent since World War Two.

A 2016 deal between Turkey and the EU has since seen the number of migrants arriving in southeastern Europe massively reduced. Migration policy, however, remains a hot-button issue across the European Union, with national leaders discussing the topic Thursday at a summit in Brussels.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse Stuck on the Aegean European funding for NGOs responding to the migrant crisis on the Greek islands came to an end in August. Since then the Greek state alone has been responsible for dealing with the asylum-seekers. But there was no clear transition plan, and gaps in humanitarian services have become apparent throughout Lesbos.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse Neither here nor there Moria, the main reception facility in Lesbos, and other such camps are unable to cope with the continuing arrivals of small numbers of asylum-seekers. Tensions are high; frustration quickly turns into aggression, fights between individuals morph into fights between different ethnic groups.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse Fresh and clean Discarded shampoo and water bottles lie next to an improvised shower outside Moria. Due to a shortage of hygienic facilities in the camp, many people there look for other options. They see the failure to provide adequate facilities as a deliberate strategy to worsen living conditions.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse Waiting for a decision Aman from Eritrea apologizes for not being able to offer tea or water in his tent. He has been waiting for a decision on his asylum request since he arrived in Lesbos three months ago. "There are too many problems inside Moria." Overcrowded shelters and tensions between different groups often results into fights.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse 'We are human' An Afghan asylum-seeker prepares signs for a protest against the poor conditions in Moria. Most of the Afghans protesting have been on Lesbos for over a year and are still waiting for a response to their asylum bids. Lack of information, tough living conditions and the fear of being deported back to Afghanistan leave many of them in a constant state of anxiety.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse The limits of generosity Residents of Lesbos discuss the Afghans' protest. The refugee crisis has led to a massive decline in tourism on Lesbos, down by almost 75 percent this year compared to 2015. Greece's ongoing economic crisis has also had a great impact on the island. Although many locals are sympathetic to the asylum-seekers's needs, they don't think Greece is capable of hosting them right now.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse Two weeks against helplessness Volunteers have been filling gaps, such as providing health care, which is in great demand. German doctor Juta Meiwald came to Lesbos for two weeks to help. She says many of the health problems are a result of the living conditions at Moria. Those in the camps have complained that, regardless of their afflictions, doctors there generally just give them painkillers.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse Reclaiming life At the Mosaik Support Center asylum-seekers transform life vests collected on the beach into bags and wallets. Activities like this are a welcome interruption to the monotony of life in the camps, in addition to giving those stuck here, like this Iranian woman, a small income.

What migrants face on Lesbos – and why it's getting worse New arrivals every day Since early 2015, new arrivals have been obliged to stay on the island until their asylum claims are processed. But a backlog of applications and a lengthy appeals process have meant only a fraction of cases have been assessed. Over 14,000 migrants arrived in Greece this year, according to the UN refugee agency. Last year Greece granted asylum to around 12,500 people, while 173,000 came. Author: Vincent Haiges (Lesbos)



dm/sms (dpa, Reuters, AP, AFP)