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<p>The UK is currently providing support to multiple operations across the Mediterranean.</p><p>Some
of these have an explicit focus on search and rescue: Border Force and Royal Navy
assets are supporting Operations POSEIDON and TRITON in the Aegean and central Mediterranean
respectively.</p><p>Migrants have also been rescued this year as part of Operation
SOPHIA – the EU’s military response to counter migrant smuggling from Libya. Although
SOPHIA does not have a search and rescue mandate, under the UNCLOS, vessels respond
to those in distress at sea. UK vessels have rescued over 25,000 migrants since January
2015, 9,000 of those within this calendar year.</p>
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