Friday November 12th 2021
London upset with France
Number of days: 1000 migrants cross the canal
While Europe is primarily looking at the border with Belarus, Great Britain is also experiencing an onslaught of migrants. Yesterday alone, more than 1000 refugees reached the British coast after an adventurous journey across the English Channel. Resentment in London against France’s coastguard is growing.
More migrants than ever in a day have illegally crossed the English Channel from France to Great Britain. As the Interior Ministry announced in London, a total of 1185 people crossed from the mainland on Thursday, which is the first time that more than 1000 people. A spokesman called the number “unacceptable”. Photos showed people, including women and young children, reaching the British coast near Dover in fully packed rubber dinghies.
It is estimated that around 23,000 migrants have already reached the country this year this year – more than twice as many as in the whole of 2020. This is increasing pressure on British Home Secretary Priti Patel. The conservative politician announced several times that she would stop illegal migration. The BBC quoted a government source accusing France of losing control of the situation on its coast. Numerous people are waiting there for an opportunity to go to Great Britain.
France: kayak occupants probably drowned
London supports the French controls with the equivalent of around 63 million pounds. As the maritime prefecture in France announced, a total of 54 migrants who had tried to cross the English Channel with small boats were rescued on Thursday. Those rescued, including two children, were taken to the ports of Calais, Dunkerque and Boulogne-sur-Mer. Two refugees rescued from their kayaks told the gendarmerie about three other missing refugees. All attempts to find the three in the sea with the help of a helicopter, however, failed.
The British government introduced a rigid immigration system after Brexit. Interior Minister Patel wants to make it more difficult for migrants to apply for asylum upon arrival. Preventing free movement is a Brexit pledge made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Conservatives.