The United Nations leader said yesterday that at least 340 migrant children, an average of two per day, have died in the eastern Mediterranean since September.

Many of the children who drown are infants and toddlers, and the actual number of deaths was likely higher, according to a statement issued by the U.N. refugee agency (UNHCR), UNICEF and the International Organization for Migration.

"These tragic deaths in the Mediterranean are unbearable and must stop," said Filippo Grandi, the U.N. high commissioner for refugees.

The three organizations issued their appeal as government leaders of Germany, France and Greece were meeting in Brussels to discuss the inflow of migrants to Europe.

Many children try to join relatives who are already in Europe. Since the start of the year, at least 410 of the 80,000 migrants who have attempted to cross the Eastern Mediterranean have died, an extraordinary increase since the same period last year.