Canadian frigate leaves Halifax for Libyan coast
Posted Mar 2, 2011 09:42:01 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA (NEWS1130) – HMCS Charlottetown has left for the Libyan coast on a mission that’s focused on bringing humanitarian aid, but the warship’s commander said its crew is prepared for whatever’s needed.
The frigate and a Sea King helicopter left Halifax harbour to join an international flotilla assembling in the Mediterranean. Commander Craig Skjerpen says it could take up to 12 days for the vessel to reach its destination, depending on sea conditions in the North Atlantic.
The warship could be used as part of an international blockade of Libya, for humanitarian relief operations or in possible NATO actions. There are 240 Canadian Forces members on the vessel, including air force personnel.
Skjerpen says the navy has often been used to enforce embargoes, but the Charlottetown’s primary mission is to offer humanitarian assistance and to help Canadians and others who want to leave Libya.
“We’re incredibly well trained for numerous missions and that is an inherent capability that the navy has, to be able to adjust and adapt to missions as the situation changes,” he says.
Mass exodus from Libya to Malta
Global National’s Paul Johnson is in Malta this morning and spoke with us live a little earlier about the mass exodus out of Libya.
“Malta has been one of the Mediterranean countries most affected; so far, they’ve seen about 12,000 people come through the country,” he explains. “Most of them have been foreign workers who got out and have been using Malta as a transit point.”
“There are some predictions out there that if unrest continues in Libya and in the region, they may face between 300,000 and 1.5 million people moving throughout this region,” he adds.
Johnson says information about what’s actually happening in Libya is hard to come by.
