An ecumenical prayer service to commemorate refugees who lost their lives at sea while on their way to Europe was held this evening by the Jesuit Refugee Service, the Church of Scotland and the Andreasgemeinde, in collaboration with Emigrants' Commission.

The Malta office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees noted that although the exact death toll would probably never be known; Michael Pugh, an academic specialising in irregular migration by sea, carried out a rigorous study in 2004 which concluded that up to 2,000 people were dying each year trying to reach Europe in this way.

This year, around 1,500 individuals perished at sea since the Libya crisis started.

UNHCR reiterated its call for all the authorities concerned to cooperate to ensure that boats in distress at sea were effectively assisted.