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Navy Saves Young Migrants Crammed Into Boat

The Royal Navy's flagship has saved more than 360 migrants - including 50 young children - crammed into a wooden boat trying to cross the Mediterranean.

HMS Bulwark intercepted the stricken boat north of Libya and sent five landing craft to rescue the 369 people crowded on board.

They were then ferried onto the 19,000-tonne warship and given food, water and dry clothes.

It is not known where the migrants are likely to be put ashore.

The mission was one of five rescue operations that took place on Thursday.

The others were carried out by Irish, Italian and German naval units.

HMS Bulwark's Commanding Officer Captain Nick Cooke-Priest said he was sure the migrants would have died without help.

He said some of the children were "horrifyingly young".

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon praised the crew's efforts, but stressed there was more work to be done.

"HMS Bulwark and her crew have once again saved hundreds of lives in the Mediterranean migrant crisis, offering medical assistance, food, water and dry clothes to those in need," he said.

"A wider political solution is required to this crisis, but that does not detract from today's rescue at sea."

Bulwark was sent to stop migrant drownings in the Mediterranean after more than 800 people died on a boat travelling from Libya last month.

The migration surge has been caused in part by the Libyan civil war, which has allowed people smugglers to work virtually unimpeded.

There have also been rising illegal boat journeys from Egypt and Turkey.