Operation Triton – Securing one of the world’s deadliest borders

During the last two years we have seen a dramatic increase in the numbers of migrants crossing the Mediterranean sea heading for Europe, only in 2015 there has been over 800,000 people making the journey by sea. Due to unseaworthy vessels and hard conditions there has also been a dramatic rise in the number of deaths on the Mediterranean sea, making it one the world’s deadliest borders with almost 3,500 deaths only in 2015.
 
During the summer months of 2015 the Swedish Coast Guard participated in Operation Triton. A sea rescue operation hosted by the EU border agency Frontex, with the mission of helping Italy in their efforts in the current migrant crisis on the Mediterranean sea. During the period for the operations over 5000 people were saved from vessels that wouldn’t have made the journey to Europe.
 
With us we will have Mattias Lindholm, spokesperson for the Swedish Coast Guard who served as Press Officer for Frontex during Operation Triton. He will share his and the Swedish Coast Guards experiences from those three intense Summer months on the Mediterranean where over 5000 people were saved from failing vessels.
 
Welcome!