MSF launching search-and-rescue operation for Italian migrants
Médecins Sans Frontières is launching a search-and-rescue operation in the Mediterranean in light of the recent deaths of more than 600 people there.
The migrants had been fleeing Libya when their boat capsized off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa in the early hours of Sunday morning.
It is the second such incident in a week and brings to one thousand the number of people believed to have died attempting to gain refuge in Europe.
The group is criticising the EU for scaling back a previous effort to tackle the issue of migrants fleeing their homelands.
Director of MSF's Irish office, Jane-Ann McKenna, said: "Starting in May Médecins Sans Frontières in partnership with MOAS will launch a search-and-rescue operation in the Mediterranean in light of the recent tragedy.
"Médecins Sans Frontières is calling on European states to launch large scale search-and-rescue activities to avoid any more future death."
Maltese MEP Roberta Metsola has also called for stronger action from across the European Union to tackle the crisis.
She says until now, ministers have paid lip service to what has been happening.
Ms Metsola said: "I would like to hope that we can move on from tweeted condolences and statements promising action that don't translate into anything."
