“The country is bearing a heavy burden, but it needs an international response,” Carlotta Sami, the UN’s spokeswoman in Italy was quoted by Rai News as saying.
The comments came on the same day more than 2,000 migrants arrived in Italy. They were packed into 25 boats and travelled from Libya.
READ MORE HERE: 'The migrant situation is becoming untenable'
"We are not in an emergency situation, but we are in a difficult situation," Sami added.
Italy says that more than 50,000 migrants have landed on its shores since the start of this year – around the same number as for the whole of last year. Neighbouring Malta says 2,200 have arrived on its islands.
Gil Arias Fernandez, the head of Frontex, the European Union border coordination agency, said recently that "hundreds of thousands" of migrants were currently in Libya and hoping to leave as soon as possible because of growing lawlessness.
Italian Interior Minister Angelino Alfano estimated that number at between 400,000 and 600,000 people.
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