FRONTEX Aegean Sea: Romanian Border Police rescue 117 migrants

Romanian Border Police officers aboard the patrol vessel of the Coast Guard, on a FRONTEX mission in Aegean waters, rescued 117 migrants , including 56 children and 23 women, who were in two boats that risked sinking.

Last week, the crew of the ship observed a small, inflatable craft overloaded with persons, heading for the Greek territorial waters, according to a press release.

Romanian Border guards have started rescue operations and brought on board 70 people from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan.

Border Police officers have provided them with assistance, food and water, and a few hours later, the rescued people have been safely disembarked in the Port of Chios and handed over to the Greek authorities for specific procedures.

Yesterday, the crew of the patrol vessel identified another inflatable craft carrying 47 people, who have been safely transported to the port of Chios, where they were taken over by the Greek authorities.

Since the beginning of the deployment in Greece (January 2017), the Romanian Border guards on the Coast Guard vessels have rescued - individually and in cooperation with the crews of the other vessels of the EU Member States deployed by FRONTEX Agency to Greece within Join Operation 'POSEIDON SEA 2017' - over 1,000 persons in danger onboard small vessels in the Greek territorial waters.

Source:RRA.Translated by Miruna Matei