Bishop of Peterborough Rt Revd Donald Allister was responding to the Italian coastguard's announcement that four boats had capsized as they tried to cross from Egypt.
Most of those on board are thought to have been Somali.
Speaking to Premier, Bishop Donald, who's sitting in the House of Lords this week, said: "It's so desperately sad and shocking. The need for people to escape from parts of North Africa and the Middle East is very acute and I think we don't always realise how very bad the situation is in those parts of the world."
He added: "A lot of these people aren't simply coming for a better life, they know that they're risking their lives and their families lives getting in these boats and they wouldn't do it unless they were desperate.
"We've got to find ways of helping them in their own countries".
Italy's coastguard is said to be dealing with migrant boats on a daily basis as refugees continue to make the trip to Europe.
Listen to Rt Revd Donald Allister speaking to Premier's political editor Martyn Eden.