In a tragic turn of events, five people, including a child, lost their lives while attempting to cross the English Channel from France to the U.K. The French authorities reported the incident just hours after the British government approved a controversial migrant bill aimed at deporting some who entered the U.K. illegally to Rwanda.
According to the prefecture responsible for the north of France, the authorities spotted several boats packed with migrants off the coast of Pas-de-Calais, trying to depart in the early morning. French navy ships, including the rescue tug Abeille Normandie, intervened to rescue "a very overcrowded boat carrying more than one hundred people on board." Sadly, despite their efforts, five individuals perished in the attempt.
The regional prefect, Jacques Billant, confirmed that among the deceased were a woman, three men, and a 7-year-old girl. The tragic incident occurred when the boat, carrying a total of 112 people, tried to sail off the beach in Wimereux. The bodies were discovered on the beach on Tuesday morning, while around 100 migrants were rescued and taken aboard a French navy ship. They are set to be transported to the port of Boulogne.
This heartbreaking event unfolded just after the U.K. government, under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, secured approval from Parliament for a controversial plan to deport some migrants to Rwanda. This move is part of the government's efforts to deter migrants from risking their lives in dangerous journeys across the English Channel in hopes of claiming asylum in the U.K.
The legislation has faced criticism from human rights groups, with both the United Nations refugee agency and the Council of Europe urging the U.K. to reconsider its plans, fearing they could harm international cooperation in addressing the global migrant crisis.
Migrants attempting to cross the busy English Channel often face perilous conditions, including the risk of drowning and boat sinking due to overcrowding. Despite these dangers, an estimated 30,000 people made the crossing in 2023, according to U.K. government figures.
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