More than 1,000 migrants have died in the Mediterranean Sea so far in 2019 while trying to reach Europe, the sixth year in a row that the figures have been recorded, according to the United Nations migration agency.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) announced the figures on Tuesday following a weekend boat tragedy off Morocco's coastline in which as many as 40 people died.

"Amid a rising tide of anti-migrant sentiment in our politics worldwide, this shocking figure of nearly 1,000 deaths is due in some measure to a hardening attitude and outright hostility towards migrants fleeing violence and poverty. This carnage at sea pains us all. It also shames us all." IOM Spokesperson Leonard Doyle said.

According to the migration agency, at least 15,000 people have perished in the Mediterranean since 2014.

The figures have prompted calls from the UN refugee agency for changes in the way countries handle the migration crisis in the region.

"UNHCR is urgently calling for an increase in search and rescue capacity, including a return of EU state vessels to search and rescue operations, and an acknowledgement of the crucial role of NGO boats in saving lives at sea." UNHCR spokesman Charlie Yaxley said in a statement.

The announcement of the figures comes after Rwanda welcomed the first batch of refugees from Libya into its borders in a deal between the East African country and the UN, aimed at providing safe accommodation to migrants stranded in North Africa.

66 migrants arrived in Rwanda last week, and more are expected to follow soon.

Source: IOM