It is reported that among the 20 feared dead, some were crushed by other people in the boat, while others drowned at sea. The victims include a child, women and some men – mostly from Nigeria, the Ivory Coast and reportedly from Bangladesh.

Some European politicians have said ‘if we save lives we act as an attraction for more people to try to come’ - that is outrageous immorality: Peter Sutherland.

“The world urgently needs to bring peace to Syria to stop the completely unacceptable suffering of the Syrian people" - Éamonn Meehan, Executive Director, Trócaire.

“The common good seems to have gone off our national and ecclesiastical radar over the last half-decade" Archbishop Jackson warns.

“We can see from many current crises that no amount of policy will deter people from migrating," Bishop John Kirby said at the launch of 'Welcoming the Stranger' in London.

“I make a heartfelt appeal to the international community to react decisively and quickly to see to it that such tragedies are not repeated" - Pope Francis.