CALAIS (CU)_The number of people fleeing poverty and conflict and risking the perilous journey across the English Channel in hope of better opportunities in Britain have been surging over the recent years. It has been a matter of contention between the governments of Britain and France, who have long been at odds over to prevent the illegal crossings, with both parties blaming each other for not doing enough.
The matter attracted global attention once again, as the biggest tragedy involving migrants on the dangerous crossing took place on Wednesday (24 Nov) after a UK-bound boat with about 34 people sunk in the English Channel. According to maritime authority spokesperson for France, several bodies were spotted in the water by a French naval boat around 2 p.m. and retrieved an unknown number of casualties and injured persons. Later, three French patrol boats were joined by a French helicopter and a British helicopter to search the area.
French authorities earlier reported the number of deaths as 31 but later revised this figure to 27. Their nationalities are yet to be identified. Four suspected traffickers have now been arrested in suspicion of links to the event, while an investigation has been opened into aggravated manslaughter, organized illegal migration and other charges. A joint French-British search operation for survivors was still under way by late Wednesday.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson convened a meeting of the government’s crisis committee to address the matter, saying he was “shocked, appalled and deeply saddened.” The Prime Minister also reiterated Britain’s intention to work with French authorities to “break the business model” of gangsters. “Our offer is to increase our support but also to work together with our partners on the beaches concerned, on the launching grounds for these boats,” he told reporters. “We’ve had difficulties persuading some of our partners, particularly the French, to do things in a way that we think the situation deserves.”
A similar response was given by the French Minister of Interior, Gérald Darmanin, who called for coordination with London, saying “the response must also come from Great Britain.” “It’s a day of great mourning for France, for Europe, for humanity to see these people die at sea,” he added.
