U.N. refugee agency UNHCR expects 1.4 million refugees to flee to Europe via the Mediterranean this year and next, it said in a revised appeal seen by Reuters on Thursday, a sharp rise from initial estimates of 850,000.

"UNHCR is planning for up to 700,000 people seeking safety and international protection in Europe in 2015," the document said.

"...It is possible that there could be even greater numbers of arrivals in 2016, however planning is based for the moment on similar figures to 2015." – Reuters