Europe is facing unprecedented levels of maritime migration which has resulted in an alarming number of deaths at sea. Most of those dead or missing are thought to be refugees fleeing Syria, Eritrea and Somalia. More than 1,600 migrants have died attempting the crossing since 1 January 2015 and the anticipated death toll is set to rise significantly, as more migrants cross the Mediterranean this summer. There is currently no effective Mediterranean search and rescue operation.

In October 2014, the Italian government cancelled its Mare Nostrum rescue operation owing to its high cost, even though it had saved more than 140,000 people since October 2013. The European Union has refused to finance Mare Nostrum -- on the unsubstantiated grounds that saving lives only encourages more migration.

Unless the European Union introduces a concerted, coordinated, and well-funded search and rescue operation, with adequate reach across the Mediterranean, thousands of migrants will die trying to reach Europe’s shores. On 27 May the European Commission adopts a new Agenda for Migration. We would like you to use this chance to

-  Push for a significant scale up of search and rescue.

- Commit to joint political and financial responsibility in rescue operations.

- Improve the protection of children according to international law.

- See more at: http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/restart-the-rescue#sthash.5oxX5nki.dpuf