Paris- Syria has topped the list of the most dangerous countries for journalists in 2016, according to statistics issued by the press freedom group, Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The group said that 57 journalists have been killed around the world in 2016 while doing their job, and Syria was on top of the list with 19 journalist killed, then followed by Afghanistan with 10 killed, Mexico with nine killed, and Iraq with five journalists killed.

Compared to the 67 journalists killed in 2015, there is a drop in number; however, this decrease can be attributed to the fact that journalists have fled countries which became too dangerous, “especially Syria, Iraq, Libya, Yemen, Afghanistan and Burundi,” the group said.

It said the withdrawal of reporters from these conflict-ridden countries had created “news and information black holes where impunity reigns.”

Nine bloggers and eight media workers have also been killed this year.

Reporters Without Borders said the fall in deaths was also the result of the “terror” imposed by what it called “press freedom predators” who close media outlets arbitrarily and gag journalists.

“The violence against journalists is more and more deliberate,” RSF secretary-general Christophe Deloire said.

“They are clearly being targeted and murdered because they are journalists.”

“This alarming situation reflects the glaring failure of the international initiatives aimed at protecting them,” Deloire added.