THE UN refugee agency has expressed fears over at least 130 people dead or missing after three Mediterranean wrecks.

On World Refugee Day, UNHCR’s Cecile Pouilly said yesterday that more efforts must be made to tackle dangerous ocean migration from Libya after three crafts leaving the country were wrecked within days of each other.

The first left the unstable African nation on June 15 and the Italian coast guard, which rescued four Sudanese and Nigerian nationals, believes at least 133 were on board before it began taking on water.

The second boat, carrying at least 85, including “many families with children”, split in two and sank after setting off on the same evening. Another seven people, including the husband of a pregnant woman, are understood to have been lost in the third incident, with survivors disembarked in Sicily on Monday.

Speaking in Geneva, Pouilly appealed for more rescue operations and the provision of safe alternatives for those fleeing conflict in Africa and the Middle East.

She said: “Today is World Refugee Day. These incidents are a reminder of the grave dangers that people confront when forced to flee their countries because of war and persecution.

“Since the beginning of the year, over 77,000 people have tried to cross the Mediterranean to Europe. This is among the world’s most dangerous routes — a journey that no one takes lightly.

“Despite the heroic work of those involved in rescue at sea, the death toll on the Mediterranean continues to rise. Close to 2000 people are reported to have died or gone missing since the start of the year.”

The comments came as Scots marked World Refugee Day by forming a human chain in Glasgow city centre. The symbolic act marked the start of Refugee Festival Scotland.

The organisers of the act, Amnesty International, Oxfam Scotland and Scottish Refugee Council, hope it sends a clear message to the world that “Scotland Stands with Refugees”.

Gary Christie, interim chief executive of Scottish Refugee Council, said: “We’re gathered here today to show that we care about people who have been forced to flee their homes around the world. Millions of people’s lives continue to be torn apart by war and terrorism and we are proud that Scotland offers a place of safety to a small number of people in need.

“We’re also here to pay tribute to the courage and strength of those men, women and children who are rebuilding their lives in Scotland with the support of communities across the country.”

Meanwhile, visiting refugee girls in Kenya, UNHCR special envoy Angelina Jolie called for extra focus on female refugees, with more than half of all displaced people worldwide being women and children.

The actress said: “How we treat them is a measure of our humanity as nations.

“On World Refugee Day, my only ask is that people consider the pain and suffering of young girls like these. Not only have they had to flee extreme violence or persecution, lost everything and witnessed the death of family members, but they have also had to face so much abuse and intolerance and hardship.

“They are doing their best ... with minimal support trying to live lives of dignity against impossible odds.”

Kenya is home to almost 491,000 refugees from neighbouring countries, including 101,713 from South Sudan, which is the biggest new factor in global forced displacement after peace efforts collapsed last summer, contributing to the departure of 737,400 people by the year’s end.