Migration to Europe on the rise

The European Union has called on Turkey’s government to explain the rising number of ships leaving its ports carrying migrants bound for Europe.

In the last few weeks, thousands of people have been rescued from drifting ships, which have been left stranded in the Mediterranean Sea.

Many migrants, a bulk of whom are Syrian refugees who fled conflict at home, say they are being mistreated by Arab governments.

Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith reports from the port city of Mersin, where many migrants begin their journey in search of better lives in Europe.