(CNN) More refugees and migrants have braved wintry seas to reach Europe so far this year than in the first four months of 2015, according to the United Nations.

Children are increasingly among those making the treacherous journey to Greece.

"One in three people arriving to Greece were children as compared to just one in 10 in September 2015," U.N. refugee agency spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said.

While more than 80,000 people crossed the Mediterranean safely -- more than 74,000 to Greece alone -- "near daily shipwrecks" had left at least 400 dead so far this year, Fleming told media in Geneva on Friday.

"Deaths on this route are increasing at an alarming rate," Joel Millman, a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, said this month.

"Deaths on this route are increasing at an alarming rate," Joel Millman, a spokesman for the International Organization for Migration, said this month.

Members of the Turkish military work to recover the bodies. Authorities managed to save 75 people on the same boat, which contained people from Myanmar, Afghanistan and Syria.

Members of the Turkish military work to recover the bodies. Authorities managed to save 75 people on the same boat, which contained people from Myanmar, Afghanistan and Syria.

The bodies of migrants are seen on a beach after the boat capsized in the Aegean Sea. Authorities report that at least five children were among the dead.

The bodies of migrants are seen on a beach after the boat capsized in the Aegean Sea. Authorities report that at least five children were among the dead.

Members of the Turkish military carry bodies recovered from the Turkish coastal town of Ayvacik.

Members of the Turkish military carry bodies recovered from the Turkish coastal town of Ayvacik.

The remains of a boat that was carrying migrants are seen on the shoreline near the Aegean town of Ayvacik, Canakkale, Turkey, Saturday, January 30. At least 33 migrants died after the boat capsized in the Aegean Sea.

The remains of a boat that was carrying migrants are seen on the shoreline near the Aegean town of Ayvacik, Canakkale, Turkey, Saturday, January 30. At least 33 migrants died after the boat capsized in the Aegean Sea.

Some 36% of the migrants arriving in Greece so far this year have been children, and 21% were women, the U.N. says. A plurality -- about 43% -- were men.

Bad weather slowed arrivals from 72,193 in January to 5,110 for the first 10 days of February, it said.

Photos: Tributes to Syrian toddler who lost his life fleeing Syria Chinese artist Ai Weiwei was captured in a photograph by India Today -- posing as Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian refugee who tragically lost his life fleeing to a Greek Island. Hide Caption 1 of 9 Photos: Tributes to Syrian toddler who lost his life fleeing Syria Ai Weiwei has been working out of Lesbos -- documenting the plight of Syrian migrants. Hide Caption 2 of 9 Photos: Tributes to Syrian toddler who lost his life fleeing Syria Murat Sayın , an artist living in Turkey, created this illustration in tribute to Kurdi: "Seeing a child who was running away from war and death... I suppose the image talks for itself." Hide Caption 3 of 9 Photos: Tributes to Syrian toddler who lost his life fleeing Syria Activists and artists around the world have protested the migrant crisis by imitating the disturbing image. Hide Caption 4 of 9 Photos: Tributes to Syrian toddler who lost his life fleeing Syria Turkish artist Omer Tosun shared this illustration on Twitter with the caption, translated to English, "I am only dreaming of what could have been, I think this expresses what a shame it is." Hide Caption 5 of 9 Photos: Tributes to Syrian toddler who lost his life fleeing Syria In Brazil, street artists create a mural depicting Kurdi. Hide Caption 6 of 9 Photos: Tributes to Syrian toddler who lost his life fleeing Syria Illustration by Islam Gawish , an Egyptian cartoonist: "This child who wanted freedom, has been killed by the fear of war, the war that he was not a part of." Hide Caption 7 of 9 Photos: Tributes to Syrian toddler who lost his life fleeing Syria Illustration by Islam Gawish , an Egyptian cartoonist: "This child who wanted freedom, has been killed by the fear of war, the war that he was not a part of." Hide Caption 8 of 9 Photos: Tributes to Syrian toddler who lost his life fleeing Syria Iranian cartoonist and animator Mahnaz Yazdani said she changed "the cruel, wild, cold water to a warm safe blanket for dead kids to sleep." Hide Caption 9 of 9

Most of the people arriving in Greece cited conflict as a reason for their journey, with more than 56% of January's arrivals coming from war-torn Syria.

The U.N. refugee agency called for European countries to provide support for new arrivals, saying some appeared to be more focused on keeping migrants and refugees off their soil than finding solutions to the crisis.

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"Despite repeated calls by UNHCR to expand legal pathways to allow refugees and asylum seekers to access asylum, many European member states are in fact reducing the legal avenues available," it said, driving migrants to people smugglers.

Once in Europe, the UNHCR said migrants and refugees faced "increasing acts of violence and prejudice."

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"Fueled by xenophobia and propaganda campaigns based on fear, refugee families, homes and places of worship are being targeted with hate crimes varying from physical attacks, vandalism, arson, and even more sinister incidents such as one where a mosque had blood thrown on its walls and a pig's head left at its door."