At least three illegal migrants died Sunday morning while trying to cross the English Channel in a small boat run by smugglers, making this year the deadliest since the crisis began.
Three migrants have died after being swamped by a small boat in frigid waters off the coast of Sangatte near Calais, the French coast guard said. A further 45 people were treated for hypothermia and other conditions on the beach, and four were hospitalized, the BBC reported. report.
The deaths bring the total number of undocumented migrants killed in the English Channel so far this year to 77, according to figures from the United Nations' International Organization for Migration (IOM). This means 2024 will be the deadliest year since the boat migration crisis began. 2018.
Pierre-Henri Dumont, MP for Pas-de-Calais, said: “Attempting to cross the Channel in this way is extremely dangerous, but even more so at this time of year.”
Dumont added that while rescue workers can respond quickly to emergencies, the water is cold and “spending even a few minutes in the water” can be fatal.
This means that the illegal activities of 1,485 people were successful. crossed The waterway ran from December 25th to 28th, marking the highest number of Christmas holidays on record since the government began keeping statistics in 2018.
More than 150,000 people illegally entered the country during the holiday period since the crisis began. More than 36,000 illegal immigrants have crossed the Channel so far this year, up from 29,437 last year.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer's left-wing Labor government has promised the public it will stop the flood of illegal migrants from France by “crushing up” people-smuggling rings operating on both sides of the Channel.
But since taking power in July, it has monitored more than 22,000 border crossings, more than in 2018, 2019 and 2020 combined.
Ministry of Interior Spokesperson said: “We all want to end dangerous small boat crossings that threaten lives and compromise border security.
“Human smuggling organizations don't care whether the vulnerable people they exploit live or die, as long as they pay them. I don't choose.
but, According to to timesSmuggling gangs continue to operate openly with little fear of punishment, advertising 'package deals' on social media sites such as TikTok, offering would-be illegal immigrants a home and job to rent once they arrive in the UK. Provided.
