Libya intercepts boats carrying 850 people on Sunday

Libyan coastguards have said they intercepted boats carrying some 850 people trying to reach European shores on Sunday.

According to reports, the refugees come from various African countries and included 79 women, 11 of them pregnant.

The BBC reports that the refugees were found in seven inflatable boats near Sabratha, west of Libyan capital Tripoli.

The UN is set to hold its first World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul starting today, where heads of state, aid agencies and others will discuss the financial response to crises and how better to distribute aid to those who most need it. The UN argues that there is a $15bn annual gap in humanitarian funding and money raised is often held up at source.

The charity Medecins sans Frontieres has however, refused to attend, arguing that the summit won't pressurise states that violate humanitarian law and that no significant new commitments will be made.

Over 30,000 migrants have already crossed from Libya to Italy this year, as the country has reportedly become a major hub for migrants as people traffickers exploit lawlessness in the country. Fears have also grown that weather conditions will mean more people attempt the dangerous 300 km crossing to the island of Lampedusa in Italy.