SVK soldiers assist in rescuing over 400 migrants
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- Date: 24.04.2018
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The SVK Military Police personnel deployed as part of the 2nd rotation on EUNAVFOR MED Op Sophia II were involved in rescue efforts to save over 400 migrants. The incident was reported worldwide by international media earlier this week. The response in the international waters of the Mediterranean lasted for over 11 hours.
The rescue mission occurred at open sea north of Libya in the early morning hours from Sunday to Monday. All 403 people made it on board the ship without sustaining any injuries. Of them, 41 were women, including 3 pregnant women, and 9 children, of whom 3 were younger than 3 years old. The migrants come from 14 countries, mainly from Sudan, Mali, and Chad. The rescued migrants were handed over to Italian security forces who closely cooperate with members of EUNAVFOR MED Op SOPHIA.
Early this morning, Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš phoned the Commander of the SVK Boarding Team, MSgt Marián Valach, to thank all SVK MP teammates for the job well done. “Our military policemen have proved once again to be a fully fledged component of the elite team under German command. And my thanks go out to Frigate Captain Christian Schultze, the shipmaster, for the system he has put in place for managing the international team,” stated Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš.
The aim of EUNAVFOR MED Op Sophia is to stop human trafficking from African states to Europe in light of the ongoing migration crisis. The Slovak Republic became involved in its historically first maritime operation in August 2016. The SVK Boarding Team have conducted dozens of rescue operations and inspections of vessels to date.
The rescue mission occurred at open sea north of Libya in the early morning hours from Sunday to Monday. All 403 people made it on board the ship without sustaining any injuries. Of them, 41 were women, including 3 pregnant women, and 9 children, of whom 3 were younger than 3 years old. The migrants come from 14 countries, mainly from Sudan, Mali, and Chad. The rescued migrants were handed over to Italian security forces who closely cooperate with members of EUNAVFOR MED Op SOPHIA.
Early this morning, Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš phoned the Commander of the SVK Boarding Team, MSgt Marián Valach, to thank all SVK MP teammates for the job well done. “Our military policemen have proved once again to be a fully fledged component of the elite team under German command. And my thanks go out to Frigate Captain Christian Schultze, the shipmaster, for the system he has put in place for managing the international team,” stated Minister of Defence Peter Gajdoš.
The aim of EUNAVFOR MED Op Sophia is to stop human trafficking from African states to Europe in light of the ongoing migration crisis. The Slovak Republic became involved in its historically first maritime operation in August 2016. The SVK Boarding Team have conducted dozens of rescue operations and inspections of vessels to date.
