Five people, including a child, died in an attempt to cross the English Channel from France on Tuesday, hours after Britain passed a bill to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda to try to deter the dangerous crossings.
The deaths occurred after an overcrowded small boat carrying around 110 people set out to cross one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. The French coastguard was still searching for any survivors.
“A tragedy occurred on a boat overloaded with migrants early this morning. We deplore the deaths of five people, a seven-year-old girl, a woman and three men,” local prefect Jacques Billant told reporters.
“The engine stopped a few hundred meters away from the shore and several people fell into the water,” Billant said.
Rescuers had arrived quickly and picked up 47 people, he said. Four were brought to hospital but their lives were not in danger.
“Another 57 people stayed on board,” he said. “They did not want to be rescued, they managed to restart the engine and headed towards Britain.”
The boat had left from Wimereux, about 32 km (20 miles) southwest of Calais.
A British border force boat carrying more than 20 migrants in life jackets was seen off the coast in Dover, southern England. Approximately 32 km from French shores, their destination remained unclear. . However, it was not clear where these migrants had set out from. This lack of clarity adds to the mystery surrounding their journey.
In the wake of the tragic drownings in the English Channel, policymakers must prioritize humanitarian solutions. Enhanced cooperation between nations is essential to prevent further loss of life. Moreover, proactive measures are imperative to address the underlying factors driving migration and ensure the safety and well-being of migrants.
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