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Over 13,000 refugees rescued by Norwegian ships in the Mediterranean Sea this year

Peter Henry von Koss.Photo : Tore Meek / NTB scanpix

According to figures from NCIS the Norwegian rescue boats Peter Henry von Koss and Siem Pilot has helped over 13,000 refugees so far this year.

Peter Henry von Koss which is patrolling between the Greek island of Lesvos and Turkey over the Aegean Sea has assisted 2,216 refugees and migrants so far this year. Life boat support is part of Frontex operation Poseidon which has assisted the Greek authorities with border since June 2015.

Since the end of July last year Siem Pilot has assisted the Italian authorities with border control and patrolling the waters between Libya and Italy. The Norwegian supply ship has so far in 2016 assisted and rescued 11,193 refugees and migrants as part of the Frontex operation Triton.

Since its inception last year, the Norwegian contribution through Frontex operations rescued and assisted a total of 16,084 refugees and migrants in 2015 and 13,409 so far in 2016. The small decline is probably because of the agreement signed between Europe and Turkey on return of refugees and migrants who have taken to Greece earlier this spring.

Nearly 250,000 refugees and migrants have crossed the Mediterranean Sea on their way to Europe this year and over 4,000 have died in the attempt, said the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today