In total, the UN estimates that more than 30,000 migrants have died in recent years trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea from North Africa to Europe, Sputnik reported.

"Crossing the Mediterranean to Europe is 'by far the world’s deadliest' journey for migrants, with at least 33,761 reported to have died or gone missing between 2000 and 2017," the UN said in a press release announcing the publication of the report.

"Shutting the shorter and less dangerous routes can open longer and more dangerous routes, thus increasing the likelihood of dying at sea," European University Institute Professor and author of the UN report Philippe Fargues wrote.

The report titled "Four Decades of Cross-Mediterranean Undocumented Migration to Europe" was produced by the UN-affiliated International Organization for Migration, the release said.

The document revealed that more than 2.5 million migrants have crossed the Mediterranean illegaly since the 1970s.

Icmal.Az