British sailors rescue 15,000 migrants from Mediterranean

ROYAL Navy sailors have rescued nearly 15,000 migrants from the Mediterranean and dropped them off in Europe, figures show.

Marines armed with SA-80 assault rifles have also smashed up and burned 110 smuggling gang boats during their 18-month migrant mission.

The commanding officer of HMS Enterprise, one of the ships given the job of rescuing migrants, has praised the work done by his sailors.

Commodore Philip Harper said: ‘Over the last year and a half my ship has rescued thousands of men, women and children at sea. It has dented the activity of criminal groups. It has been humbling to see my sailors come to the aid of innocent souls in danger, and carry out their roles with professionalism.’

A handful of the migrants have then made the journey to Britain after being allowed free train rides across Italy and France by the authorities there.

Some of them have stayed in the UK after having their asylum application rejected. Others from wartorn states have been granted the right to remain.

Hamad Said, 23, from war-ravaged South Sudan, was rescued by sailors on HMS Bulwark nine hours into his perilous journey from Libya last year.

He was dropped off in Italy then made a five-week journey to Calais by train, before jumping on a lorry to enter Britain illegally.

The Daily Mail revealed that Mr Said was granted residency several months later, and he said that since then he has stopped getting benefits. ‘I can’t thank the Royal Navy enough for what they’ve done to save thousands of people,’ he said last night.

‘I was granted a new life. I thank them with all my heart and I thank Britain for providing me with everything I need in life.’

Since April last year the Royal Navy has deployed five ships to rescue migrants.

According to Ministry of Defence figures, they have rescued 14,900 migrants in total as part of the EU mission to tackle people smuggling. This includes 900 rescued in two operations last week by HMS Echo.

The Navy has also destroyed 110 smuggling gang vessels ‘deemed hazardous to shipping’. More than 30,000 migrants have been rescued in total in the £9.3million EU mission – codenamed Operation Sophia – meaning that Britain saved nearly half of them. All were taken to Italy.

Tory MP Peter Bone said: ‘It is quite right that we rescue people in peril in the sea and the Royal Navy is doing a terrific job.

‘However, we need to go after the trafficking gangs. If you can stop it at source then you end this evil trade.

‘If you don’t go to the source then we will end up endlessly rescuing people from the sea.’ The Home Office also sent border force cutters to save migrants crossing the perilous sea. It refused to disclose how many had been rescued, but it is understood to be thousands.

Armed Forces minister Mike Penning said: ‘We have made clear from the start that the UK would focus on tackling the problem at source, smashing the criminal gangs that profit from trading with the lives of others.

‘Our ships and their crews have provided invaluable support in the Mediterranean and, in addition to hitting people smugglers hard, have saved 15,000 lives.’