The European Union has announced it will suspend maritime patrols that have rescued thousands of refugees and asylum seekers attempting the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean Sea. The rescues are not part of the mission's mandate, but an obligation by international law. "Operation Sophia will now only provide aerial surveillance and support for the Libyan coastguard. Treating Operation #Sophia as an ongoing naval operation until March 31st is misleading. pic.twitter.com/hLTQZd9jMF — Matteo Villa (@emmevilla) March 27, 2019During the 2015 refugee crisis, more than one million refugees and migrants made it to Europe.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 27, 2019 17:15 UTC