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Tragedy in the Channel - 1st December 2021

2021 has witnessed over 23,000 migrants attempting the perilous crossing from France to the UK across the Channel, and 27 people perished when their vessel capsized last week. Emergency services were alerted but only two people were able to be brought ashore alive.

Being unable to enter the UK with a visa, many migrants and refugees are forced to place their trust in people smugglers for safe passage. Yet, more often than not, the final leg of their journey – across the busiest stretch of water in the world – is undertaken in a precarious and overloaded inflatable dinghy.

Outlining the traffickers operation is French Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin.

Gerald Darmanin: "I want to say here that the first people responsible for this despicable situation are the smugglers. That is to say criminals who, for a few thousand euros, organise the trafficking of human beings from Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa and Asia. And who then use these people to bring them to Belgium, the Netherlands and France, especially, to cross the Channel and reach Great Britain."

The French port of Calais is where many migrants sleep rough while awaiting the final leg of their journey. Underlining the treacherous nature of the Channel crossing, Boris Johnson, the UK Prime Minister, has been urging countries to combine forces against unscrupulous people smugglers.

Boris Johnson: "Of course we have to work with our French friends, with our European partners. And I say to our partners across the Channel, now is the time for us all to step up, to work together, to do everything we can to break these gangs, who are literally getting away with murder."

Four smugglers suspected of causing last week’s deaths are being held in custody – the latest of 1,500 traffickers arrested by French authorities since the start of this year.

In a letter tweeted to French President Emmanuel Macron, Johnson put forward suggestions on how to address the issue, which European countries have already rejected, although they agree with the need for unity.

Meanwhile, Calais resident Mehdi Dimpre despairs.

Mehdi Dimpre: "It's serious, it makes me angry. It's not normal that things happen like that. And it's not normal that at the political level this is where we are today. It's not normal – makes me angry!"