Body Bags Appear On Brighton Beach In Protest At UK's Response To Mediterranean Migrant Crisis

Protesters climbed into the bags as Amnesty International called on the prime minister to make saving the lives of the migrants a top priority.

Two hundred body bags have been lined up on Brighton beach in an attempt to pressurise the UK into helping save the lives of migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

Tom Pugh / PA

The bags, some of which were filled by volunteers, and a wreath were laid on the beach on Wednesday as a mark of the respect for the 1,700 people who have reportedly died in the sea trying to reach Europe so far this year.

Amnesty International UK, which organised the protest, is calling on prime minister David Cameron to make “saving lives” a priority at the EU leaders meeting in Brussels tomorrow.

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"Until now, the UK government's response has been shameful, but finally they have been woken up to the need to act," the charity’s director, Kate Allen, was quoted by the BBC as saying.

"EU governments must now urgently turn their rhetoric into action to stop more people drowning on their way to Europe."

There has been a significant rise in the number of people attempting to flee to Europe from regions such as Africa and the Middle East this year.

Tom Pugh / PA

Tom Pugh / PA

Last week, around 700 people drowned after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the Libyan coast.

The captain and a member of the crew were subsequently arrested and charged.

Italy's prime minister, Matteo Renzi, called the EU leaders meeting this week to address the ongoing crisis.

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