A record-breaking 973 migrants crossed the English Channel on small boats on Saturday, according to figures released by the UK Home Office on Sunday. This staggering number marks the highest single-day count of migrants making the perilous journey this year. Tragically, the day was also marked by the deaths of four people, including a two-year-old boy and three adults, who perished while attempting the crossing from France to England. Their overloaded boat encountered difficulties, leading to the tragic incident.
These deaths bring the total number of migrants killed attempting Channel crossings this year to 51, as reported by Jacques Billant, the prefect for the Pas-de-Calais region in France. Authorities and prosecutors believe the victims likely died due to being crushed in the overcrowded dinghies.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed her profound sorrow, stating on Saturday that it was “appalling that more lives have been lost in the Channel.” She further condemned the criminal smuggling gangs responsible for organizing these dangerous boat crossings, emphasizing their disregard for human life: “The gangs do not care if people live or die – this is a terrible trade in lives.”
Keir Starmer’s newly elected Labour government has prioritized reducing the number of migrants arriving in small boats across the Channel, a significant issue in the recent July general election. The government has repeatedly promised to “smash the gangs” involved in people smuggling, vowing to dismantle the networks that orchestrate these perilous journeys. The tragedy highlights the urgent need for effective solutions to address this complex humanitarian issue, with the safety and lives of vulnerable individuals at stake.
