Migrant deaths in Med top 10,000 since 2014: UN

Geneva: More than 10,000 people have died attempting the perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Europe since 2014, the United Nations said Tuesday.

"You`ve now had since the start of 2014 -- when this phenomenon of rising numbers across the Mediterranean happened -- 10,000 deaths. That threshold has been crossed just in the last few days," UN refugee agency spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters.

According to UNHCR, 3,500 people died trying to cross the Mediterranean in 2014, 3,771 died last year and so far this year 2,814 have lost their lives.