A United Nations report says nearly 2,000 migrants trying to reach Europe from Libya have drowned in the Mediterranean this year.<br /><br />The UN’s refugee agency says the numbers include more than 300 people who died in three separate incidents since last week when boats capsized off the Libyan coast.<br /><br />The violent turmoil in Libya which has long been a major departure point for people trying to reach Europe by sea has exacerbated the problem, according to the report.<br /><br />A total of 124,380 boat people – largely fleeing war, violence and persecution – have landed in Europe since January, many after being rescued by an Italian navy and coast guard operation dubbed “Mare Nostrum”, or “Our Sea”.
