Migrants unaccounted-for in new sea tragedy

The U.N. refugee agency says as many as 300 people are now unaccounted-for in the latest tragedy among migrants crossing the frigid Mediterranean.

The spokeswoman for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Carlotta Sami, says survivors have confirmed the existence of a fourth rubber boat that left Libya on Sunday. In a statement, the UNHCR says that means some 300 people are missing. Earlier, the agency cited survivors as saying 203 people had died in the crossing.

The U.N, Save the Children and other aid organizations are sharply criticizing the new EU border patrol operation as inadequate for saving lives. The EU took over Italy's Mare Nostrum operation last year, but it only patrols close to Europe's coast. Italy had patrolled the waters up to Libya's coast. (AP)

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