British ships have rescued over 24,000 migrants

The Government have revealed that British vessels operating in the Mediterranean Sea have rescued over 24,000 migrants.

The information comes in the form of a response to a written parliamentary question.

Asked by Lord Roberts of Llandudno:

“To ask Her Majesty’s Government how many migrants have been rescued by British ships because they have found themselves in difficulty crossing the Mediterranean or Adriatic seas.”

Answered by Earl Howe, Minister of State for Defence and Deputy Leader of the House of Lords:

“In total, British ships have rescued over 24,000 migrants in the Mediterranean since April 2015.”

Recently it was revealed that HMS Enterprise alone had rescued over 7,000 people.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said while in Cyprus:

“In a single year, HMS Enterprise has rescued over 7,000 migrants. I have awarded the entire ship’s crew the Firmin Sword of Peace, given to the unit that has carried out exceptional service beyond the call of duty.”

HMS Enterprise has been deployed in the Mediterranean since June 2015 where it has been providing a vital contribution to Operation Sophia, the EU mission saving thousands of lives in the Mediterranean and breaking the business models of the people smugglers.

Recognising this significant contribution, the Defence Secretary announced that HMS Enterprise’s crew has been selected as the Royal Navy’s recipient of the Firmin Sword of Peace. The Sword of Peace is an award given to units of the UK Armed Forces who have gone above and beyond their normal role.