This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-32409151
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Mediterranean migrants crisis: Europe 'must do more' | Mediterranean migrants crisis: Europe 'must do more' |
| (4 months later) | |
| A Greek minister has said the "great powers" of Europe need to take more responsibility for the unfolding crisis in the Mediterranean Sea. | A Greek minister has said the "great powers" of Europe need to take more responsibility for the unfolding crisis in the Mediterranean Sea. |
| Deputy Defence Minister Kostas Isichos told the BBC northern Europe must do more to rescue and shelter migrants. | Deputy Defence Minister Kostas Isichos told the BBC northern Europe must do more to rescue and shelter migrants. |
| He said that Greece, Italy and Spain were working on a common position ahead of an emergency EU summit on Thursday. | He said that Greece, Italy and Spain were working on a common position ahead of an emergency EU summit on Thursday. |
| Meanwhile, more than 500 rescued people were brought ashore by Italian coastguards on Wednesday morning. | Meanwhile, more than 500 rescued people were brought ashore by Italian coastguards on Wednesday morning. |
| The number of people attempting to flee war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa, particularly Eritreans and Syrians, has spiked in recent months, leading to huge numbers of people drowning in unseaworthy vessels. | The number of people attempting to flee war and poverty in the Middle East and Africa, particularly Eritreans and Syrians, has spiked in recent months, leading to huge numbers of people drowning in unseaworthy vessels. |
| The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says there have been 30 times as many deaths so far in 2015 as in the same period last year and the figure could rise to 30,000. | The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) says there have been 30 times as many deaths so far in 2015 as in the same period last year and the figure could rise to 30,000. |
| Also on Wednesday, Italy's parliament held a minute's silence for Sunday's disaster, in which more than 800 people died. | Also on Wednesday, Italy's parliament held a minute's silence for Sunday's disaster, in which more than 800 people died. |
| Prime Minister Matteo Renzi then addressed MPs, saying he wanted asylum applications in Italy to start being processed by a "European team" and that more action was needed in countries where migrants originate in sub-Saharan Africa. | Prime Minister Matteo Renzi then addressed MPs, saying he wanted asylum applications in Italy to start being processed by a "European team" and that more action was needed in countries where migrants originate in sub-Saharan Africa. |
| However, the UN's special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants has said wealthy countries should agree to accept one million Syrian refugees over the next five years to help end the series of boat disasters. | However, the UN's special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants has said wealthy countries should agree to accept one million Syrian refugees over the next five years to help end the series of boat disasters. |
| "If we don't provide any official mechanism for... [migrants], they will resort to smugglers. The inaction of Europe is actually what creates the market for smugglers," Francois Crepeau told the Guardian newspaper. | "If we don't provide any official mechanism for... [migrants], they will resort to smugglers. The inaction of Europe is actually what creates the market for smugglers," Francois Crepeau told the Guardian newspaper. |
| Special report: Europe's migrant crisis | Special report: Europe's migrant crisis |
| More on the Mediterranean's deadly migrant routes | More on the Mediterranean's deadly migrant routes |
| On Monday, the EU set out a package of measures to try to ease the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean. | On Monday, the EU set out a package of measures to try to ease the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean. |
| They include an increase in the financial resources of Frontex, the border agency which runs the EU's Mediterranean rescue service Triton, and an extension of Triton's operational area. | They include an increase in the financial resources of Frontex, the border agency which runs the EU's Mediterranean rescue service Triton, and an extension of Triton's operational area. |
| The EU had been criticised over the scope of Triton, which replaced the larger Italian operation Mare Nostrum at the end of last year. | The EU had been criticised over the scope of Triton, which replaced the larger Italian operation Mare Nostrum at the end of last year. |
| There will also be a new campaign to destroy traffickers' boats. | There will also be a new campaign to destroy traffickers' boats. |
| Human rights group Amnesty International said that the decision to end Mare Nostrum had "contributed to a dramatic increase in migrant and refugee deaths" and called for "the immediate launch of a humanitarian operation to save lives at sea". | Human rights group Amnesty International said that the decision to end Mare Nostrum had "contributed to a dramatic increase in migrant and refugee deaths" and called for "the immediate launch of a humanitarian operation to save lives at sea". |
| The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) welcomed the EU's proposals, but stressed that "much more was needed" to tackle the issue. | The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) welcomed the EU's proposals, but stressed that "much more was needed" to tackle the issue. |
| Are you or anyone you know affected by the issues in this story? Have you made the crossing from Libya to Europe? Send us your experiences. | Are you or anyone you know affected by the issues in this story? Have you made the crossing from Libya to Europe? Send us your experiences. |
| We would like to hear your stories, you can email them to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Alternatively, you can text your comments to 61124 or message us on WhatsApp +44 7525 900971 | We would like to hear your stories, you can email them to haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Alternatively, you can text your comments to 61124 or message us on WhatsApp +44 7525 900971 |
| Read our terms and conditions. | Read our terms and conditions. |
| If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number when emailing us your details. | If you would be happy to speak further to a BBC journalist, please include a contact telephone number when emailing us your details. |
| Or comment here: |