Operation Sophia Units rescue 700 migrants
Today EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia assets have been involved in two rescue operations saving 700 lives at sea.
It was early this morning when the Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Center in Rome requested to Operation Sophia Force Commander, Rear Admiral (LH) Andrea Gueglio, to intervene on 2 vessels 25 Nautical Miles north of Libyan Coast. The British ship ENTERPRISE and the Spanish Frigate CANARIAS, with the support of the Italian Helicopter EH101 scrambled from the mission Flagship, ITS GARIBALDI, headed towards the assigned position in order to provide needed assistance.
In few hours the migrants were at safe on board the Eunavfor Med Ships and are now heading the ports of Lampedusa (ENTERPRISE) and Cagliari (CANARIAS).
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 29 rescue operations saving more than 6400 lives.
