U.N. tries to raise awareness of migrants

GENEVA, Switzerland, Dec. 14 (UPI) -- More than 200 people are feared dead or missing at sea following accidents off Turkey, the Canary Islands and Yemen, a Swiss-based U.N. agency said Friday.

Jennifer Pagonis, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, said in a news release 51 people recently drowned when a boat ferrying migrants from Turkey to Greece sank in rough weather off the Turkish coast. Another 35 people are still missing and are presumed drowned.

The Spanish media reported up to 90 migrants were missing at sea after two incidents involving large canoes headed to the Canary Islands from Senegal and Western Sahara, Pagonis said.

Finally, in Yemen, the U.N. agency reported 31 people drowned or missing between Dec. 5-12.

All of these mishaps happened in a seven-day period, Pagonis said.

The spokeswoman said the U.N. agency recently organized a two-day meeting in which governments, non-governmental organizations and experts voiced support for strengthening efforts to ensure the protection of people who must migrate to seek a better life or escape violence.

During a session devoted to rescue at sea, Pagonis said the agency urged participants to do everything possible to avoid tragedies such as those seen recently.