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Migrant crisis: UK to send ships to tackle people smugglers Migrant crisis: UK to send ships to tackle people smugglers
(35 minutes later)
The UK will provide "vital military assets" to help a Nato mission tackling people smugglers in the Aegean Sea, David Cameron has said.The UK will provide "vital military assets" to help a Nato mission tackling people smugglers in the Aegean Sea, David Cameron has said.
The PM announced the amphibious landing ship RFA Mounts Bay would be sent ahead of an emergency summit in Brussels.The PM announced the amphibious landing ship RFA Mounts Bay would be sent ahead of an emergency summit in Brussels.
The ship, which carries a Wildcat helicopter, will be joined by two cutter boats and a civilian vessel.The ship, which carries a Wildcat helicopter, will be joined by two cutter boats and a civilian vessel.
More than a million migrants entered the EU illegally by boat travelling mainly from Turkey to Greece last year.More than a million migrants entered the EU illegally by boat travelling mainly from Turkey to Greece last year.
RFA Mounts Bay and two Border Force patrol boats, known as cutters, will join naval vessels from Germany, Canada, Turkey and Greece as part of Nato's first intervention in the migrant crisis.RFA Mounts Bay and two Border Force patrol boats, known as cutters, will join naval vessels from Germany, Canada, Turkey and Greece as part of Nato's first intervention in the migrant crisis.
The vessels will identify smugglers taking migrants to Greece and pass the information to the Turkish coastguard so they can intercept these boats.The vessels will identify smugglers taking migrants to Greece and pass the information to the Turkish coastguard so they can intercept these boats.
The UK's civilian vessel VOS Grace is already in the Aegean.The UK's civilian vessel VOS Grace is already in the Aegean.
'Desperate flow''Desperate flow'
Mr Cameron said the migrant crisis was "the greatest challenge facing Europe today".Mr Cameron said the migrant crisis was "the greatest challenge facing Europe today".
"We've got to break the business model of the criminal smugglers and stop the desperate flow of people crammed into makeshift vessels from embarking on a fruitless and perilous journey," he said."We've got to break the business model of the criminal smugglers and stop the desperate flow of people crammed into makeshift vessels from embarking on a fruitless and perilous journey," he said.
"That's why this Nato mission is so important."That's why this Nato mission is so important.
"It's an opportunity to stop the smugglers and send out a clear message to migrants contemplating journeys to Europe that they will be turned back.""It's an opportunity to stop the smugglers and send out a clear message to migrants contemplating journeys to Europe that they will be turned back."
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the ship would be part of a mission to take migrants back to Turkey, rather than the EU, and to try to uncover smuggling routes.Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the ship would be part of a mission to take migrants back to Turkey, rather than the EU, and to try to uncover smuggling routes.
He also accused Russia of deliberately fuelling the refugee crisis by bombing Syrian civilians in order to force them to flee towards Europe.He also accused Russia of deliberately fuelling the refugee crisis by bombing Syrian civilians in order to force them to flee towards Europe.
Mr Fallon said he agreed with the comments made by Nato's top commander in Europe, Gen Philip Breedlove, who accused Russia last week of "weaponising" the migrant crisis in order to destabilise Europe and "to overwhelm European structures and break European resolve".Mr Fallon said he agreed with the comments made by Nato's top commander in Europe, Gen Philip Breedlove, who accused Russia last week of "weaponising" the migrant crisis in order to destabilise Europe and "to overwhelm European structures and break European resolve".
"The bombing that they [Russia] have carried out in Syria seems designed to push the Syrian civilian population toward the Turkish border and then on from Turkey into Greece," he said."The bombing that they [Russia] have carried out in Syria seems designed to push the Syrian civilian population toward the Turkish border and then on from Turkey into Greece," he said.
"That is what the bombing campaign appears to have been aimed at.""That is what the bombing campaign appears to have been aimed at."
About RFA Mounts Bay
There has been repeated criticism by the UK and US governments of Russian air strikes that they have been targeted on moderate Syrian forces and civilians rather than the so-called Islamic State (IS) group.There has been repeated criticism by the UK and US governments of Russian air strikes that they have been targeted on moderate Syrian forces and civilians rather than the so-called Islamic State (IS) group.
A temporary ceasefire in Syria was agreed last week, which Western leaders hope may ease the flow of refugees to Europe.A temporary ceasefire in Syria was agreed last week, which Western leaders hope may ease the flow of refugees to Europe.
In the run-up to the ceasefire Russia was accused of deliberately targeting hospitals and civilian infrastructure.In the run-up to the ceasefire Russia was accused of deliberately targeting hospitals and civilian infrastructure.
Russia has insisted that IS is the main target of its air strikes.Russia has insisted that IS is the main target of its air strikes.
About RFA Mounts Bay
The EU has pledged €3bn (£2.3bn; $3.3bn) to Turkey in return for housing migrants and stemming the flow.The EU has pledged €3bn (£2.3bn; $3.3bn) to Turkey in return for housing migrants and stemming the flow.
Some 13,000 are stranded on Greece's border with Macedonia as European states seek to restrict entry.Some 13,000 are stranded on Greece's border with Macedonia as European states seek to restrict entry.