Italian forces rescue over 1,300 migrants from Mediterranean

TIL Desk/World/Rome-More than 1,300 migrants and refugees were rescued in the Mediterranean, a media report said on Saturday. On Friday, a day after Italy and Libya signed a deal to curb people smuggling in the north African country, 13 rescue operations were carried out by Italy’s navy and coast guard ships. Other forces operating within the European Union (EU) mission Eunavfor, and vessels from aid groups also joined in.

On Thursday, the Italian coast guard coordinating all migrant rescue efforts in the Mediterranean said more than 1,750 migrants and refugees had been saved within 24 hours. About 450 people had been rescued in five different operations on Thursday, and 1,300 the previous day. Of this group, some 754 migrants and refugees including 131 unaccompanied minors were brought to the southern port of Reggio Calabria and given first medical check and assistance.

On Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni and his Libyan counterpart Fayez al-Serraj signed an agreement aimed at tackling the flows starting from the Libyan coasts. In latest years, the north African country has become a major origin point of departure for migrants and asylum seekers, and a crucial hub for smugglers.