Rome -
Up to 30 000 people could drown in the Mediterranean this year unless urgent action is taken to curb trafficking and rescue stricken boats, experts warned on Wednesday.
Politicians across the EU are scrambling to rethink policy after an estimated 900 migrants drowned on Sunday when a packed people-smuggling vessel sailing from Libya to Italy capsized off Malta.
EU member states have been criticised for withdrawing funding late last year from Italy's Mare Nostrum search-and-rescue mission, which cost just €9m (£6.5m) a month.
Joel Millman, of the International Organisation for Migration, said: “The 2014 total of 3 279 migrant [deaths] on the Mediterranean may be surpassed in a matter of weeks, and could well top 30 000 by the end of the year. It could actually be even higher.”
The Independent