517 migrants rescued by EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia assets
Yesterday, November the 4th, the Spanish frigate ESPS CANARIAS 
rescued 517 migrants from a wooden vessel which was sailing northward from Libyan west coastline.
The vessel was spotted early in the morning by the Luxembourg Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft SW3 Merlin III which is part of the European effort to tackle human smugglers and traffickers in the Central Mediterranean since middle July.
Also the British frigate HMS RICHMOND was in the area, patrolling in order to guarantee security while the CANARIAS rescued 33 children, 2 babies, 40 female and 442 male coming from Morocco, Syria, Somalia, Pakistan and Tunisia.
Launched on 22nd of June 2015, following a European Council decision, EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia, whilst contributing to the disruption of the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks in the Central Mediterranean, is also aimed at preventing the further loss of life at 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 21 rescue operations saving almost 5000 lives.