Refugee and migrant deaths have increased by more than fifth since the tragic drowning of three-year-old Alan Kurdi in the Mediterranean, according to latest figures. 

At least 5700 people have died on refugee and migrant routes around the world in the last 12 months, despite the international outcry that followed the discovery of little Alan's body washed up on a beach after his Syrian family tried to cross to Europe from Turkey.

In the year before he died, 4664 deaths were recorded, says the charity Oxfam which is running a refugee crisis appeal.

This adds up to one refugee or migrant death almost every 80 minutes.

Independent research by the Visual Social Media Lab at the University of Sheffield found that the death of Alan focused world interest on the issue, with four times as many tweets on the subject in the year since his death. The #refugeeswelcome hashtag began trending worldwide and has been used 2.35 million times in 12 months.

The recent images of Omran Daqneesh, also aged three, pictured covered in blood and dust in an ambulance in Aleppo after being pulled from the rubble of his apartment block, have had a similar effect.

Oxfam said this shows the strength of public feeling about the violence that is forcing many refugees to flee.

Oxfam added: "Two major summits on the global refugee and migration crisis take place in New York later this month. The preliminary negotiations have been very disappointing, with many countries unwilling to do more to help, but the summits still offer the opportunity for governments to make firm commitments to improve the situation."

Oxfam is calling on the UK government to commit to welcoming more refugees.

Chief executive Mark Goldring said: "The images of Alan Kurdi's body washed up on a Turkish beach were heartbreaking and the public was rightly shocked and saddened by them. And yet in the year since, the situation has not improved for refugees and migrants who are risking everything in search of safety and a better life for their families. In fact, the routes they take have become deadlier still.

"To stop these needless deaths, we need a coordinated, global response to this crisis. The UK government has an opportunity to show it is part of the solution at the summits in New York later this month."

Francesco D'Orazio, of audience intelligence firm Pulsar, a founding member of the Visual Social Media Lab, said: "Our analysis shows a huge increase in awareness about the refugee crisis following Alan Kurdi's death. More people are discussing the issues on social media and searching for information and news on Google."

Figures show that most deaths are by drowning in the Mediterranean but many have also died crossing the Sahara desert, drowning on boats in the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea and while travelling on the top of trains in Mexico.

According to the International Organisation for Migration's Missing Migrants Project, 4664 people died on refugee and migrant routes around the world between 1 September 2014 and 31 August 2015 and 5700 people died on refugee and migrant routes between 1 September 2015 and 26 August 2016.

A march to highlight the refugee crisis will take place on 17 September.