Hundreds of people's lives are threatened in the middle of the sea, these two countries leave them at the mercy of fate

Two boats with about 1,000 people on board are reported to be in danger in the Mediterranean Sea, but Italian and Maltese authorities have not responded to calls for help, according to rescue groups.

The boats are taking on water, said Maurice Striel, founder of Alarm Phone – an NGO that takes calls from migrant boats in distress and alerts authorities and rescue boat operators.

He said each ship carries about 500 people and that his group first alerted the Italian and Maltese authorities to their plight yesterday.

"People report that they fled Libya a few days ago and that their engine stopped. Authorities are informed – rescue efforts are urgently needed and without delay,” Alarm Phone wrote.

Neither Malta nor Italy's maritime control centers had responded to multiple requests for information from CNN by Wednesday.

Numerous human rights organizations have raced to track the boats.

"The situation on board one of the boats appears dire, with reports that the vessel has taken on water and a woman has given birth," MSF wrote of the boats on Wednesday.