UNHCR says about 250 feared dead in Mediterranean shipwrecks

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) says nearly 250 people are missing and feared dead following two shipwrecks in the Mediterranean Sea in recent days.

UNHCR says one of its partner agencies, the International Medical Corps, has reported a shipwreck off the Libyan coast on Sunday from which 163 people are missing and feared dead. The UN agency says one woman and six men were rescued by the Libyan Coast Guard.

Separately, the agency says some 82 people are missing and feared dead after a rubber dinghy carrying 132 people sank after several hours of sailing. Some 50 survivors have been rescued and taken to Pozzallo, Sicily.

Overall, UNHCR said Tuesday that more than 1,300 people have disappeared and are believed to have died while crossing the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Italy this year.

Spanish officials say that about 300 migrants have tried to scramble across the six-meter border fence separating the north African enclave city Melilla from Morocco with many throwing stones and other objects at police.

Melilla's Interior Ministry office says most of the migrants have been pushed back by Spanish and Moroccan police, but about 100 managed to enter the city.

It said three officers and three migrants were treated for injuries following Tuesday's incident. One officer was injured in the hand by one of the hooks used by migrants to climb the fence.

Thousands of migrants from sub-Saharan countries try to enter Spain via its two north African enclave cities each year.

Those who make it across head for temporary migrant accommodation centers. They are eventually repatriated or let go.

(Source: AP)

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