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Human Rights Watch (HRW) has asked the European Union (EU) to act immediately on the refugee situation in the Mediterranean. It follows the latest tragedy where at least 700 migrants died in an attempt to flee from their homelands and reach Europe. The death toll for the past week is over 1,000. A HRW spokesperson said: "The EU is standing by with arms crossed while hundreds die off its shores. These deaths might well have been prevented if the EU had launched a genuine search-and-rescue effort." Italy's Prime Minister said efforts should focus on refugee boats leaving Libyan ports.

The EU is under fire over its policy to reduce efforts to save lives at sea. Divisions began when the EU cut its search-and-rescue budget by two-thirds. The president of the European Parliament, said: "Europe can do more and Europe must do more. It is a shame and a confession of failure how many countries run away from responsibility." Malta's leader warned: "We will all be judged in the same way that history has judged Europe when it turned a blind eye to the genocide of the last century." Spain's leader said: "Words won't do any more."