Brussels, August 31 (RHC)-- The European Union has called for emergency talks to address the rapidly growing number of people fleeing to Europe to escape violence and unrest in the Middle East and North Africa.

On Sunday, 37 people died when a boat capsized off the Libyan coast. This came just days after another boat capsized off the Libyan coast killing more than 200 people.

Melissa Fleming, a spokesperson for the United Nations refugee agency, said the number of refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean to reach Europe has passed 300,000 this year. Melissa Fleming: "The number of refugees and migrants in the Mediterranean this year has now exceeded 300,000. That includes 200,000 people landing in Greece and 110,000 in Italy. This represents a large increase from last year, when about 219,000 people crossed the Mediterranean during the whole of 2014."