Another boat of migrants - including children and a pregnant woman - has been met by officials in the Italian city of Palermo.

The country's immigration centres are becoming overwhelmed with the swelling numbers of refugees from Africa.

More than ten thousand have arrived into Italian ports in the last week alone.

Mayor of Trapani Vito Damiano says officials in Sicilly need help:

Meanwhile, Pope Francis has called on the EU to do more to help Italy with the crisis.

The numbers of desperate people needing rescue in the Mediterranean is on the rise. They're risking treacherous boat journeys to flee wars.

After meeting Italian president Sergio Mattarella at the Vatican, Francis said it is “evident the proportions of the phenomenon require much broader involvement”. He urged tireless appeals to “solicit a more extensive commitment at the European and international level”.

Francis thanked Italy for rescuing and sheltering the refugees and other migrants whose numbers approach 200,000 since the start of 2014. More than 10,000 arrived in the past week alone.

Italy says it will continue saving migrants abandoned at sea by smugglers but demands that the European Union increase assistance to shelter and rescue them.