It's feared that the migrant crisis is due to worsen as smugglers take advantage of good weather conditions in the Mediterranean sea.
6,000 people were rescued and 10 bodies were recovered by EU crews at the weekend.
It comes a fortnight after nearly 900 people drowned trying to make the same trip to Europe.
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Many of the migrants are desperate to flee from poverty and violence, and it is expected the summer weather will encourage more people to attempt the crossing to Italy.
Paddy Agnew is the Rome Correspondent for the Irish Times - he says transferring immigrants is a lucrative business:
