It's Director, Leonardo DiChirico, has been speaking after least 20 refugees died trying to reach Europe after their boat sank off the coast of Libya.
More than 4,000 would-be refugees were saved in 22 separate rescue operations at sea on Thursday in one of the busiest days of the Mediterranean migrant crisis.
Mr DiChirico told Premier governments are being reactive, not proactive when it comes to the humanitarian crisis.
He said: "We've not dealt with the issue from a more general and sustainable point of view, we've just tried to respond to the on going crisis without having a bigger picture."
Leonardo DiChirico added that faith groups were helping new arrivals.
He said: "The Church is reacting in a very generous way in term of providing whatever can be done from a non-governmental point of view.
"In Italy in particular all the humanitarian aid is done through government or agencies."
Although he added that more can always be done.
"It's a drop in the ocean - the need is far bigger than the resources, but I think overall the response is positive," he said.
"I think we have to expand it and make it work better."
Improved weather conditions appear to have led to an increase in the number of refugees and migrants risking the crossing to Europe.
Listen to Premier's Hannah Tooley speak to Leonardo DiChirico here:
