An Albanian naval vessel rescued 32 Afghan migrants from a dinghy in the Aegean Sea early on Friday, the country’s Ministry of Defense said.
The Butrinti ship was on patrol when it carried out a search and rescue (SAR) operation, coming to the aid of the migrants, who had departed from Çeşme, Turkey, and were attempting to reach the Greek island of Chios, the ministry said in a statement.
Albania’s Navy and Coast Guard have intensified rescue efforts in recent days, bringing the total number of migrants saved at sea to 70 in the past four days, it added.
“The Navy remains committed to its humanitarian mission, ensuring safety and saving lives in international waters,” the ministry said.