The United Nations is not considering setting up holding camps in North Africa and the Middle East to prevent migrants from making the dangerous sea crossing to Europe.

Contrary to what was reported in The Guardian, an influential UK newspaper, the UN refugee agency insisted it would only explore external processing “under the right circumstances and with adequate safeguards”.

A spokesman for UNHCR in Malta told Times of Malta the agency “was not considering holding camps” as an alternative to address the challenges of refugees and migrants risking their lives at sea.

“Rather, UNHCR is working on a comprehensive set of proposals, focused on saving lives and helping refugees find alternatives to dangerous journeys,” the spokesman said.

The Guardian yesterday reported that the UN was forced to consider the opening of holding camps where asylum applications could be handled in a bid to prevent thousands of migrants crossing the Mediterranean.

UNHCR is working on a comprehensive set of proposals, focused on saving lives and helping refugees find alternatives

But the UNHCR spokesman told this newspaper that external processing could “potentially be explored” as part of a comprehensive plan that included legal alternatives and safe routes. Resettlement, humanitarian admission and helping to reunite refugees with family members in Europe were options being considered.

However, the underlying principle, he added, was that any processing of refugees and migrants had to take place in “a safe environment and with adequate safeguards”.

Countries like Libya, which is not a signatory to the Geneva Convention on refugees, are not considered safe for migrants by human rights groups. The Mediterranean has turned into a veritable burial ground for thousands of migrants who attempt to cross to Europe on overcrowded, rickety boats.

Malta, Italy and Greece have borne the brunt of irregular migration, which has intensified this year as Libya remains in turmoil and the conflict in Syria rages on.

The Guardian quoted UNHCR’s European director, Vincent Cochetel, saying: “We would not be totally against external processing if certain safeguards were in place: the right to appeal, fair process, the right to remain while appeals take place.”