1st LD Writethru: UN agency says 300 migrants missing in Mediterranean crossing

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Wednesday it is shocked over the scale of tragedy in the Mediterranean in which some 300 migrants and refugees were reportedly missing.

Reports gathered from the Italian Coast Guard and the survivors in Lampedusa island, Italy's southernmost point, suggested some 300 people were missing. Those who were among migrants and refugees mainly from Sub-Saharan Africa who had left the coast of Libya attempting the Mediterranean crossing in four dinghies.

"This is a tragedy on an enormous scale and a stark reminder that more lives could be lost if those seeking safety are left at the mercy of the sea. Saving lives should be our top priority. Europe cannot afford to do too little too late," said Vincent Cochetel, UNHCR Europe Bureau Director, in a statement.

Initial reports had suggested some 29 refugees and migrants died on Sunday on one dinghy, and more than 110 survivors have landed in Lampedusa, after being rescued by Italian coastguards and a merchant vessel, according to UNHCR.

Survivors told UNHCR that they had left last Saturday from Libya on rubber dinghies and had been at sea for days, without food and water.

According to the UN organ, survivors reported a fourth dinghy which was still missing, with the youngest of the missing reportedly being a 12-year-old boy.

UNHCR reiterated its concerns about the lack of a strong search and rescue operation in the Mediterranean, warning that Europe's Triton operation, which is run by the European border protection agency Frontex, was not focused on search and rescue and was not providing the necessary tools to cope with the scale of the crises.

Statistics from UNHCR showed that at least 218,000 people, including both migrants and refugees have crossed the Mediterranean in 2014 and this trend is expected to continue in 2015. Enditem