The European Union will start intercepting boats suspected of smuggling refugees in southern Mediterranean.

The undertaking, dubbed Operation Sophia, is aimed at boarding, searching, seizing and diverting vessels suspected of smuggling refugees. At present, the EU is focused on surveillance and rescue operations.

Operation Sophia, formerly known as EUNAVFOR Med. Sophia, is based on the name given to the baby born on the ship in the operation. The mother was rescued on Aug. 22 in Libya. The new name of the operation will be formally adopted at the earliest opportunity by the Council.

Aside from the aforementioned goals, the operation is also aimed at disrupting the business model of human smuggling and trafficking networks in the Mediterranean to prevent further deaths at sea. The operation is part of EU’s wider comprehensive approach to migration. It tackles both the symptoms and root causes of the issue, among which are conflict, poverty, climate change and persecution.

More than 130,000 migrants and refugees have crossed to Europe from the North African coast, and more than 2,700 have drowned during the process. Despite the high number of unsuccessful cases, a handful of migrants and refugees, mainly Syrians who are fleeing the civil war-torn country, are taking a different route. Syrian refugees are crossing overland into Turkey and taking a journey by sea to get to Greece and to central and northern European countries. Germany is reportedly almost always the preferred destination.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au, or let us know what you think below.

RELATED STORIES