An emergency summit has been scheduled to take place with European leaders this week as European Union proposed doubling the size of its search and rescue operations on Monday, amidst fears of further refugee boats in trouble at sea in between Libya and Europe.
EU ministers, on Monday, held a moment of silence at a meeting to discuss the refugee crisis that has left an estimated 1,500 people dead at sea this year.
Italy and Malta were working to rescue a further two migrant boats with around 400 people, off the coast of Libya on Monday, reports Reuters.
A Bangladeshi survivor told Italian police that at least 950 passengers were on board the boat that collapsed on Sunday.
The UN human rights chief, described the current EU position as “callous” and called on the member states to adopt a “more courageous approach by opening legal channels to enable migrants to enter. “Europe is turning its on some of the most vulnerable migrants in the world and risks turning the Mediterranean into a vast cemetery.”
Up to 700 feared dead as migrant vessel capsizes in Mediterranean (19 Apr 2015)
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