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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Mediterranean migrant crisis: Hundreds rescued off Sicily | Mediterranean migrant crisis: Hundreds rescued off Sicily |
| (5 days later) | |
| A total of 741 migrants travelling in six boats have been rescued off Sicily, the Italian coastguard says. | A total of 741 migrants travelling in six boats have been rescued off Sicily, the Italian coastguard says. |
| The migrants, who had set sail from Libya, were picked up by EU naval vessels on Thursday, a coastguard spokesman told AFP news agency. | The migrants, who had set sail from Libya, were picked up by EU naval vessels on Thursday, a coastguard spokesman told AFP news agency. |
| Last month the EU pledged to beef up maritime patrols and fight trafficking. | Last month the EU pledged to beef up maritime patrols and fight trafficking. |
| The UN estimates that 60,000 people have already tried to cross the Mediterranean in the past five months, and that about 1,800 people have died. | The UN estimates that 60,000 people have already tried to cross the Mediterranean in the past five months, and that about 1,800 people have died. |
| The death toll represents a 30-fold increase on the same period in 2014, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). | The death toll represents a 30-fold increase on the same period in 2014, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM). |
| The rise has been attributed to chaos in Libya - the staging post for most crossings - as well as milder weather. | The rise has been attributed to chaos in Libya - the staging post for most crossings - as well as milder weather. |
| Many migrants are trying to escape conflict or poverty in countries such as Syria, Eritrea, Nigeria and Somalia. | Many migrants are trying to escape conflict or poverty in countries such as Syria, Eritrea, Nigeria and Somalia. |