Norway Sends Vessels For Mediterranean Patrol, Rescue

Norwegian Prime, Minister Erna Solberg, has said Norway would send another vessel to participate in European Union-led patrol and rescue operations in the Mediterranean to alleviate deteriorating migration crisis in the region.

Solberg said in a statement that by offering a vessel to Operation Poseidon Sea outside Greece, Norway will help the Greek government with additional resources for saving lives at sea.

He said by doing so, Norway would be contributing more toward ensuring security in Europe. The Norwegian government is finalising the specifics of its latest participation in joint rescue operations in the Mediterranean led by Frontex, the European Union’s border security agency.

In May, Norway sent a vessel, Siem Pilot, and personnel to participate in Joint Operation Triton, a Frontex operation, for border patrol and help save lives close to the Italian coast in the Mediterranean.

According to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, a record 219,000 people crossed the Mediterranean in 2014 in smugglers’ boats with 3,500 deaths recorded.

The agency said about half of figure were refugees fleeing war and persecution.

UNHCR said last week that as of June 8, a total of 103,000 refugees and migrants had crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe among them 54,000 are in Italy and 48,000 in Greece.

The International Organisation for Migration recently estimated that more than 1,800 migrants have lost their lives in the Mediterranean so far in 2015.

NAN