30/01/2019 16:56
Migrant crisis: UN says six die every day in Mediterranean crossings
An average of six migrants died crossing the Mediterranean every day last year, a UN report says.
Italy had earlier highlighted the lower overall number of deaths last year, due to fewer people making the crossing.
But the rate of deaths increased to one for every 14 arrivals in 2018 – from one in 38 the year before.
The report came as seven European countries agreed to end a row over 47 rescued migrants, stranded on a humanitarian boat for 12 days.
Sea Watch, a German humanitarian organisation, had taken Italy to the European Court of Human Rights after it pulled the migrants from the Mediterranean near Libya on 19 January.
Italy's populist government, which has taken a hardline stance on migrant boats, refused to allow the boat Sea-Watch 3 to dock, so it remained moored off Sicily.
On Wednesday, Italian PM Giuseppe Conte said the 47 migrants would be allowed to disembark after "a list of friendly countries", including Italy, agreed to take them in.