The Tunisian Forum for Social and Economic Rights says the death of over 300 African refugees in a recent shipwreck off the Italian island of Lampedusa was the outcome of Europe’s ‘war against migrants.’

The boat tragedy took place on October 3 and was the worst in recent history with a death toll of over 300 people. Divers are still searching for dozens of victims in the sunken wreck. Another 155 people survived the ordeal.

The victims included 210 men, 83 women and nine children. The migrants’ boat is estimated to have had about 500 people on board.

The incident took place after the fishing boat crossing the Mediterranean from Libya with Eritrean and Somali refugees caught fire, turned over and sank.

Haon added that those who lost their lives in October 3 incident are “victims of the policy in Europe, which reduces the number of visas and strengthens control measures but does not save migrants’ lives.”

He made the remarks on the sidelines of a presentation by activists of the Tunisian forum, which was set up in 2011 in an effort to campaign for the rights of migrants.

The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) said in a statement given to the press that the fatalities off the Italian island “like those of yesterday and tomorrow, are the victims of a closed Europe blinded by its security logic, which has renounced the values it claims to defend.”

The statement added that numerous shipwrecks between Libya and Lampedusa should be deplored, “If saving people was a priority as the law of the sea demands.”

According to estimates by immigration charities, between 17,000 and 20,000 migrants have perished at sea trying to arrive at Europe during the past 20 years.

President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso was jeered by activists and local residents while visiting Lampedusa on October 8.