Today’s Defence news includes coverage of HMS Enterprise rescuing 700 migrants in the Mediterranean yesterday, former Chief of the General Staff Lord Richard Dannat apologising for allowing troops to take the anti-malaria drug Lariam, and that Prince Harry has reportedly supported the introduction of a Purple Heart style medal in the UK.
HMS Enterprise
The Sun and The Times both report that HMS Enterprise took part in the rescue of more than 6,000 migrants in the southern Mediterranean yesterday as part of Operation Sophia. Both papers say that the ship saved 708 people from six ‘rickety boats’, and will transport them to Southern Italy later today.
An MOD spokesperson said:
Royal Navy sailors operating on HMS Enterprise saved 700 vulnerable lives yesterday as part of a large rescue effort in the Southern Mediterranean. HMS Enterprise continues to play her part in Operation Sophia, which is focused on tackling the traffickers responsible for endangering the lives of innocent people.
Since July 2015 it has destroyed 100 boats intended for use by smugglers. By providing humanitarian aid to Syria and Africa, supporting stabilisation in Libya, and tackling the scourge of Daesh, this Government is determined to stop people having to make such a perilous journey.
Larium
The BBC’s Victoria Derbyshire Show included a piece on the anti-malarial drug Lariam with former Army chief Lord Richard Dannatt apologising for allowing troops to take the drug and saying that his son had adverse side effects as a result of taking it.
An MOD spokesperson said:
The vast majority of deployed personnel already receive alternatives to Lariam and, where it is used, it is only prescribed after an individual risk assessment.
But we have a duty to protect our personnel from Malaria and, as the last Defence Committee report concluded, in some cases, Lariam, will be the most effective way of doing that.
It continues to be recommended as safe by Public Health England and the World Health Organisation.
