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During the night from Friday to Saturday, four migrants lost their lives during perilous attempts to cross the Channel to England. These tragedies add to the already tragic human toll for the year 2024, with now 51 deaths since January. Among the victims are a two-year-old child, two men, and a woman, all crushed aboard small, overloaded boats.
Deadly crossings in deplorable boats
These new tragedies occur as crossing attempts have increased thanks to more favorable weather conditions. The first boat, carrying nearly 90 people, suffered an engine failure off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer. A two-year-old boy, recovered unresponsive, could not be saved, probably crushed according to initial evidence. On a second overloaded boat, three adults were found dead, probably suffocated and drowned in the 40 cm of water at the bottom of their canoe.
The authorities denounced the precariousness of the boats used for these crossings. The boats are often underinflated, poorly motorized, and lack life jackets for all passengers. These conditions increase the risk of fatal accidents. The prefect of Pas-de-Calais underlined the irresponsibility of smugglers, who do not hesitate to separate children from their parents to maximize their profits.
A record human toll in 2024
Political and humanitarian reactions
The Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, reacted on X by denouncing the smugglers and promising an intensification of efforts to fight against these “mafias” who organize these deadly crossings. For its part, the Utopia 56 association is calling for a radical change in migration policy, demanding rescue actions at sea and the establishment of legal and secure routes to England.
Today several people have died trying to cross the Channel. A child was trampled to death in a boat. Terrible drama which must make us all aware of the tragedy that is playing out. The smugglers have the blood of these people on their hands and our…
— Bruno Retailleau (@BrunoRetailleau) October 5, 2024
Solutions to the migration crisis still pending
The British government, under Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has promised to tackle theillegal immigration by increasing expulsions of migrants and strengthening the fight against smuggling networks. However, humanitarian associations believe that measures more focused on the protection of migrants and international cooperation are necessary to prevent these tragedies from repeating themselves.
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