Tragedy struck on Sunday, as two migrants died in the English Channel during an attempt to cross to the UK. According to a French maritime official, the incident occurred off the coast of Calais and Dunkirk. Approximately 50 other migrants were rescued from the same boat, while searches are ongoing in the area for any other possible individuals.
Several boats carrying migrants departed from northern France on Sunday morning, following a period of extreme windy conditions. The favourable weather proved an incentive for several groups of migrants to take to the water. This led to French authorities launching a rescue operation when the vessel got into trouble.
This tragic incident occurred amid growing concerns over the perilous journeys taken by migrants hoping to reach the UK. In 2021 alone, over 20 people have lost their lives attempting to cross the world’s busiest shipping lane, often in hopelessly overloaded dinghies.
The resulted in heightened political tensions, as Boris Johnson promised to take a “tougher” stance on illegal immigration decrying the danger posed by crossing the channel, whereas campaigners called for a more humane approach and greater collaboration to address the root causes of the ongoing crisis. The tragic latest event is likely to reignite the debate over migration and borders more broadly, exposing again the stark contrast of views over the complex issue
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