UN demands action as 300 migrants die

The UN refugee agency urged the European Union on Thursday to do far more to save the lives of refugees in the Mediterranean, saying its existing maritime border patrol is "woefully inadequate".

The UN Refugee Agency issued the strongly-worded statement after more than 300 migrants were feared drowned this week when their overcrowded dinghies sank, the latest boat tragedy in a perilous crossing from Africa to Europe.

"(The UN Refugee Agency) is today calling on the European Union to urgently change its approach to dealing with sea crossings with a view to ensuring that saving lives is the topmost priority," it said.