The family members of 27 individuals who lost their lives in the most tragic mass drowning incident in the Channel in recent decades have commemorated the two-year anniversary of the tragedy by publishing an open letter, urging for clarification on the events that transpired.
Along with numerous refugee organizations, the signed letter declares that the families are still left without a justification for the French and British authorities’ neglect of the individuals on the sinking dinghy who repeatedly pleaded for assistance.
Out of the 27 bodies that were found after the dinghy sank, there was at least one pregnant woman and three children. Currently, four people are still missing.
The message declares: “We are committed to never forgetting the lives lost on that night, as well as the loved ones lost in the time since. We call for justice and change. We yearn for those seeking safety on British shores to be recognized as human beings, deserving of rights, compassion, and respect.”
“Events such as this are a result of the persistent ‘othering’ mindset of our politicians, which dehumanizes individuals as sons, fathers, mothers, daughters, friends, and family members.”
The letter advocates for the establishment of secure pathways for all refugees seeking to enter the UK, as well as enhancements to resettlement and family reunification programs for refugees. It states that this is the only solution to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
A recent inquiry conducted by the Marine Accident Investigation Branch (MAIB), a division of the Department for Transport (DfT), revealed that a series of factors led to confusion during the incident. These factors included receiving multiple SOS calls, adverse weather conditions, and a shortage of staff in the emergency response team.
The families have not been informed of when the results of the investigation into the tragedy, which was announced after the MAIB report was published, will be released to the public.
A group of charities in the refugee sector, including Calais Appeal, Care4Calais, Freedom from Torture, Refugee Action, the Refugee Council, Safe Passage, and the Scottish Refugee Council have collaborated to create an open letter.
According to Steve Smith, the head of Care4Calais, it has been two years since the biggest loss of life in the Channel in many years, yet there has been no accountability for the UK authorities’ failure to respond to the distress calls from those on board the ill-fated boat.
We will not achieve justice until the families receive answers, those who are responsible are held accountable, and our government prioritizes the safety of refugees by offering secure passage.
After the tragic incident of multiple deaths by drowning on November 24th, 2021, there have been additional occurrences in the Channel, most recently on Wednesday where two individuals drowned 0.6 miles (1km) from the French coastline. This year, over 27,000 individuals seeking asylum have crossed the Channel in small vessels.
Source: theguardian.com
