The continuing tide of migrants making deadly crossings of the Mediterranean Sea forced the hand of European Union (EU) leaders Thursday as they pledged more effort, resources and additional ships to assist in rescue operations. In addition, the gr0up began making plans for military action against those who have sent the immigrants to sea on dilapidated boats.

Migrants have died in recent days in numbers approaching 1,000. The EU agreed to triple the funds committed to patrols in the Mediterranean, budgeting almost $10 million a month. Although the leaders directed Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, to work out the diplomatic possibilities that would allow military strikes against traffickers, German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the priority now is to save lives “and take the right measures to do so.”

It is now understood that rescue efforts will be enhanced by Great Britain, which will commit three ships and three helicopters, Germany two or three, France pledged two ships as Ireland and Belgium both will send one.

Those who attempt the precarious crossings to Europe are escaping persecution, war and poverty in the Middle East and North Africa. The International Organization for Migration says 1,727 have died this year, a number 30 times higher than last year.

Funerals were performed Thursday for 24 people who died on the island of Malta. Meanwhile, more than 200 were rescued off the Libyan coast by the Italian Coast Guard.  Saturday saw over 800 dead when their boat overturned off Libya. The EU Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said on Malta that Europe has now declared war on human smugglers.