A year of intense work for the crews of our ships that sees the navy cooperate with organizations and associations in one of the most impressive post-war humanitarian missions. A commitment that today has allowed us to achieve important goals, such as helping to save the lives of thousands of people.
The 18 October 2013 the Italian government, after the tragic events of 3 and October 11 occurred off Lampedusa, and also due to an extraordinary increase in the migration phenomenon coming mainly from the North African coasts, ordered the activation of the Mare Nostrum operation. The navy, in close synergy with the general command of the port authorities, the central immigration and border police department of the Ministry of the Interior, with the support of the finance guard, the air force, the state police , of the carabinieri, the constant surveillance of the waters of the Strait of Sicily and south of the island of Lampedusa begins.
After 365 days of activity, conducted 24 hours a day, the migrants assisted by the vehicles involved in the Mare nostrum device were over 24 men, women and children.
More than 95.000 migrants recovered from navy ships; 351 traffickers of human beings brought to justice thanks also to the cooperation with the attorneys involved; 9 major ships seized. Results achieved thanks to the use of 32 military ships, 2 submarines and helicopters and airplanes that have alternated from the beginning of the operation with the use of an average of military 900 per day; almost 60 the emergency medical transport by helicopter; thirteen boarding on suspicious ships by the rifle crews of the San Marco marine brigade.
One year after the start of the World Trade Organization, the efforts by the navy, air force and all the government agencies and armed bodies of the state involved did not stop. During this year, numerous collaborations were born with the common purpose of safeguarding human life at sea and at the same time guaranteeing an adequate framework of health security and control of migrants arriving on our territory. In particular, it is worth mentioning:
- the agreement with the health ministry that together with the health personnel on board reinforced the health surveillance device against potential biological risks connected to migration flows - the presence of the public security department staff - central immigration management and of the border police who, assisted by cultural mediators, proceed to the pre-identification of all the migrants rescued and recovered on board - the doctors and nurses of the RAVA foundation, of the Italian relief corps of the Order of Malta (CISOM), of the body military of the CRI and of the volunteer nurses of the CRI who contribute to the medical-health assistance of the migrants on board of the Navy ships - the participation of the Save the Children organization staff, for the support, orientation, legal information and cultural mediation for minors, seminars held by the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) for training on refugee law for naval personnel involved in the operation.
Source: Military Navy
