A tragedy occurred on Tuesday when a migrant boat capsized in the English Channel, resulting in the deaths of at least 12 people.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin confirmed the tragedy and announced that rescue operations are ongoing to locate two individuals still missing.
The incident highlights the severity of the migrant crisis, with over 2,000 people arriving in Britain on small boats in the past week.
The British and French governments have prioritised tackling illegal immigration, with leaders pledging to work together to dismantle smuggling routes.
The English Channel’s strong currents and busy shipping lanes make the crossing perilous, and this incident is not an isolated event. In August, two people were found dead after a similar incident.
Charity organisations, like Care4Calais, are calling for action, stating that the focus on security measures is not reducing crossings but rather pushing migrants to take greater risks.
“Every political leader, on both sides of our Channel, needs to be asked how many lives will be lost before they end these avoidable tragedies?
“Their continued obsession, and investment, in security measures is not reducing crossings, it is simply pushing people to take ever increasing risks to do so,” Steve Smith, CEO of Care4Calais said.
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