European warships and coast guard vessels have rescued more than 2000 of migrants off the coast of Libya.
According to Migrant Offshore Aid Station located in Malta، said they had conducted a rescue mission coordinating with Italian، Irish and German ships.
Italy’s coastguard officials had not been able to confirm the exact number of migrants، but reported they were helping around a dozen more ships.
HMS Bulwark، a British Royal navy ship has been reported to be headed towards the location to give aid and assist in the rescue mission.
A BBC correspondent on-board Bulwark reported the ship will be using helicopters and landing craft during today’s rescue efforts hoping to pick up more migrants.
Italy’s Driade has already saved around 560 of the migrants who had been casting away off the Libyan coast، which had included a large number of women and children while Ireland’s Le Eithne had picked up 310 people.
The number of migrants crossing the Mediterranean sea has increased by 10% in the first five months of 2015. Italy government prediction puts around 200،000 migrants expected to arrive the country’s shore this year، which a drastic increase from the 170،000 in 2014.