The loss of agglomerated boats of people trying to reach Europe multiplied in recent weeks on the route between Libya and Italy and recently on the Greek island of Crete.
"We are in a period of pain and shame, sorrow for the mothers, fathers and children who died, and shame because this happens before the eyes of Europe," the secretary general of the IFRC, Elhadj As Sy lamented.
Sy called on governments to provide safe routes to refugees fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
On Friday, a boat with 700 migrants sank in waters close to Greece and coastguard vessel rescued around 340, but still hundreds missing are reported.
On the coast of the Libyan city of Zuwara Red Crescent recovered the bodies of 133 individuals after recent shipwrecks in the central Mediterranean, said Sunday the spokesman for Al-Khamis al-Bosaifi.
The source added that three quarters of the migrants were women and at least five children, mostly sub-Saharan Africans.
According to the Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees, some two thousand 510 people died in that sea crossing since early 2016.
Italy is emerging as the new main gateway to the so-called Old Continent, after the close of the Balkan route and the agreement signed in March between the European Union and Turkey to return to that territory those arriving irregularly Greece.
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