Political solution on Syria needed to stem migrant crisis in Mediterranean - EU official

Illegal migrants sit at the Abu Saleem detention center in Tripoli, April 21, 2015. REUTERS/Ismail Zitouny

BOGOTA (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Europe's aid chief on Tuesday said the failure of the United Nations Security Council to reach a political solution to end Syria's civil war means tens of thousands of migrants will continue to cross the Mediterranean to seek refuge in Europe.

Claus Sorensen, head of the humanitarian aid arm of the European Union (ECHO), said international diplomatic efforts to end four years of civil war in Syria must be stepped up to prevent people making the perilous crossing to Italy's shores.