25 Nov 2015

EUNAVFOR MED Operation Sophia: a synergic effort to save lives

Yesterday 24th November, 290 migrants were rescued at sea from 3 dinghies departed in the night from the Libyan coast.

With the contribution of the Spanish aircraft Cisne10 Orion P3 , that spotted one of the dinghies during a patrol and surveillance flight, the German supply-ship FGS BERLIN and the British frigate HMS ENTERPRISE  saved respectively 236 and 54 migrants for a total of 262 men and 28 women: a great example of synergy and cooperation in saving lives for the EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia Task Force when.

Furthermore, 116 migrants were transferred on board the FGS BERLIN from the Italian Ship ITS DUILIO, part of Mare SicuroOperation.

Only a few cases of no dangerous hypothermia were identified among the 406 migrants, who are now at safe on board the German Frigate heading towards the port of Augusta in Italy.

With Phase 1 of the Operation successfully completed, EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA is currently executing Phase II “High Seas”, which started on the 7th of Octoberand encompasses, in addition to previous Phase tasks, the interception, boarding, search, seizure and diversion of smugglers’ vessels in the high seas in the Central Mediterranean Sea.

In 4 months, upon request by the competent Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), in accordance with the International Law of the Sea, and fully respecting Refugee Conventions, EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia assets have been involved in 27 rescue operations saving more than 5700 lives.