Hollande urges EU meet after migrant tragedy
French President Francois Hollande called Sunday for a meeting of EU ministers after the feared drowning of some 700 migrants on Sunday.
Hollande, speaking during a wide-ranging interview on French television, said that if the death toll were confirmed "it would be the worst catastrophe in recent years" in the Mediterranean.
He said Europe "must act" against the growing catalogue of mass drownings of migrants attempting to reach its shores, and called for closer surveillance of the routes used by smugglers.
Hollande called for "more boats, more aerial surveillance and an intensified fight against trafficking."
"Because those who put these people on boats are traffickers, terrorists even, because they know these boats are lousy... and put hundreds of people in danger."
The latest boat to capsize went down near the Libyan coast, and the 28 survivors gave testimony indicating there may have been about 700 people on board, the UN refugee agency said.
The latest disaster comes after a week in which two other shipwrecks left an estimated 450 people dead.
Comments
See Also
Hollande, speaking during a wide-ranging interview on French television, said that if the death toll were confirmed "it would be the worst catastrophe in recent years" in the Mediterranean.
He said Europe "must act" against the growing catalogue of mass drownings of migrants attempting to reach its shores, and called for closer surveillance of the routes used by smugglers.
Hollande called for "more boats, more aerial surveillance and an intensified fight against trafficking."
"Because those who put these people on boats are traffickers, terrorists even, because they know these boats are lousy... and put hundreds of people in danger."
The latest boat to capsize went down near the Libyan coast, and the 28 survivors gave testimony indicating there may have been about 700 people on board, the UN refugee agency said.
The latest disaster comes after a week in which two other shipwrecks left an estimated 450 people dead.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.