Migrant crisis: Captain appears in Italian court
The alleged captain of a sunken migrant ship, which killed more than 800, has appeared in an Italian court. It comes as the EU has agreed to treble its funding to tackle the on-going crisis.
UN confirms 800 died in migrant shipwreck off Libya
The United Nations refugee agency has confirmed 800 migrants died in a shipwreck off Libya on Sunday after speaking to survivors of the disaster.
Carlotta Sami, spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Italy, said: "There were a little over 800 people on board, including children aged between 10 and 12.
"There were Syrians, about 150 Eritreans, Somalians... They had left Tripoli at about 8 am on Saturday."
The disaster is thought to be the worst to have occurred in the Mediterranean in recent history.
Representatives from the UN agency and the International Organization for Migration said they had interviewed the majority of 27 survivors, who described the moment the trawler carrying them capsized after a Portuguese merchant ship approached the vessel, causing a stampede.
The survivors, who came from Mali, Gambia, Senegal, Somalia, Eritrea and Bangladesh, have now been taken to holding centres.
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Migrant boat 'captain' stands emotionless in dock
Mohammed Ali Malek, presumed captain of this weekend's sunken migrant ship, showed little emotion as he appeared in court today.
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People smuggler scorns EU leaders over migrant crisis
As the politicians meet, a people smuggler scorned their efforts. The man insists he is helping desperate people out of dire situations.
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Trafficked to Europe: My perilous journey across the Med
Abdel Rahim Ali says his journey from Africa to Europe was fraught with hunger, incarceration and the regular threat of death.