A report from French rescuers stated that one individual has passed away and two others are unaccounted for in the Channel following an event involving a small vessel.
The French Coastguard, Préfecture maritime Manche et mer du Nord, reported four emergency missions in the Channel on Wednesday. These operations were coordinated by the Gris-Nez regional surveillance and rescue team.
Authorities reported that a total of 179 individuals who were attempting to travel across the English Channel were saved.
According to a representative from the British government, an event involving a small boat in French waters occurred in the Channel on Wednesday.
The French government is at the forefront of managing the situation and conducting an inquiry.
The Maritime Prefecture reported that the rescue operation in the area was alerted to “multiple vessels in distress near the coast of Pas-de-Calais”.
A vessel was spotted near the coastline of Wissant, but upon investigation, the occupants did not emit any distress signals and proceeded with their voyage. Subsequently, a second vessel was discovered in distress and requested assistance in the vicinity, leading to the rescue and transport of 55 individuals to Boulogne-sur-Mer.
By noon, the passengers on the initial boat requested assistance and 56 individuals were assisted. The passengers reported that three people had fallen overboard earlier in the morning. A search and rescue mission was initiated with a helicopter and boat.
French authorities have reported that the first individual found on board was unconscious and could not be resuscitated. Unfortunately, the person passed away after arriving at port. The challenging weather conditions have hindered the search for the two other missing individuals. The prosecutor’s office in Boulogne-sur-Mer is conducting an investigation.
Another small boat off the coast of Sainte-Cécile was flagged and 14 individuals were rescued. The French authorities reported that some passengers declined the assistance offered. Forcing individuals to board rescue boats at sea was deemed too risky by the rescue services, and those who denied help chose to remain on the small boat.
Simultaneously, a separate vessel was discovered in distress along the coastal area of Pas-de-Calais and 54 individuals were saved.
Enver Solomon, the CEO of the Refugee Council, expressed condolences to the families impacted by the unfortunate loss of life in the English Channel and praised the bravery of those who responded to the emergency call.
This is another unnecessary disaster caused by humans. People of all genders and ages, specifically from Afghanistan, are putting their lives at risk while crossing the Channel due to the lack of safe and efficient routes.
If the government does not reconsider its actions, there will likely be a higher number of fatalities. Instead of the illegal and expensive Rwanda strategy, we should come up with a plan to offer refuge to those escaping mistreatment, aggression, and abuse. This can be achieved by broadening opportunities for families to reunite, implementing refugee visas, and establishing an agreement with the French government to provide fair treatment and respect for individuals seeking asylum.
A representative from HM Coastguard stated that they are currently carrying out a search and rescue operation in regards to a previous incident in the French search and rescue area. The incident involves an individual who went missing while on a small boat in the English Channel.
This week, data from the Home Office revealed that over 2,000 individuals have migrated to the UK in 2021 by crossing the strait between England and France.
There has been a 32% decrease in the number of arrivals compared to the same time last year (2,953), but a 49% increase compared to the same time in 2022 (1,482). In 2023, 29,437 individuals arrived in the UK after crossing, which is a 36% decline from the record 45,774 arrivals in 2022.
According to the Home Office, there were no newcomers on Tuesday or Monday, but on Sunday, a total of 290 individuals seeking asylum arrived by boat on five separate occasions.
Source: theguardian.com
