BRUSSELS -- European Union leaders committed extra ships, planes and helicopters to save lives in the Mediterranean at an emergency summit convened Thursday to address a crisis that has left more than 1,300 migrants dead over the past three weeks, and agreed to lay the groundwork for military action against traffickers.
Germany and France pledged two ships each, while Britain committed three to patrol the Mediterranean, and other member states also lined up more vessels and helicopters that could be used to rescue migrants, officials said.
EU member states also agreed to triple funding to 9 million euros ($9.7 million) a month for the EU operation that patrols the Mediterranean.
They assigned EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini to line up the diplomatic options that would allow EU militaries to strike against the boats used by traffickers. Officials said the lack of a strong Libyan government would likely make U.N. backing necessary.
"Leaders have already pledged significantly greater support, including many more vessels, aircraft and experts" than had been anticipated before the summit, EU President Donald Tusk said.
French President Francois Hollande said the EU would hold a summit in Malta with African countries by this summer to see how the continents can work together to better deal with a crisis that has grown dramatically in recent years.
The announcements came as 24 victims of the worst-ever migrant disaster in the Mediterranean were buried Thursday in Malta. Two dozen caskets containing the only bodies recovered from the weekend capsizing off Libya that left some 800 migrants feared dead were laid out for a memorial service on the grounds of Malta's main hospital, followed by burial at the island nation's largest cemetery.
None of the bodies was identified: One casket had "No. 132" scrawled on it, referring to the number of the DNA sample taken from the corpse in case a relative ever comes to claim it.
For several years, EU leaders have done little more than deplore the rising death toll and mark tragedies with moments of silence and wreaths instead of fundamental action. When Libya disintegrated politically after the overthrow of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi and unrest spread in neighbouring countries, Europe failed to take forceful action.
Desperate migrants fleeing war, repression and poverty in Africa and the Middle East threw their lot in with smugglers who charged $1,000 to $2,000 for a spot on overcrowded and unseaworthy boats to make the perilous crossing. Ending that is Europe's main challenge.
"First and foremost, we have to save lives and take the right measures to do so," German Chancellor Angela Merkel said.
Prime Minister David Cameron said Britain would contribute the navy's flagship, HMS Bulwark, along with three helicopters and two border patrol ships to the EU effort.
"As the country in Europe with the biggest defence budget we can make a real contribution," he said, but added that this wouldn't include accepting a share of the refugees.
The task ahead is huge, with more than 10,000 migrants plucked from seas between Italy and Libya just over the last week.
April is already the deadliest month on record in terms of migrant deaths, with more than 1,300 fatalities in the Mediterranean. More than 1,776 have died so far this year, the United Nations refugee agency has reported, roughly half the number who perished at sea in all of 2014.
"Right now it's a question of fixing yesterday's errors," Hollande said.
