A tragic incident occurred in the English Channel in the early hours of Saturday, 12 August, when a boat carrying around 60 migrants, thought to be Afghans and Sudanese, from France to the UK capsized, killing a reported six people.
The Préfecture Maritime de la Manche et de la Mer du Nord, the French maritime authority, announced that the search and rescue operation involved French and British ships and a helicopter, and that they managed to save most of the passengers from the sinking boat.
This is the latest in a series of incidents involving migrants trying to cross the English Channel in small and unsafe boats, often at the mercy of smugglers and traffickers. According to a count by AFP, more than 100,000 migrants have attempted this dangerous journey since 2018, risking their lives to reach the UK.
The British Home Office said that it was working closely with the French authorities to prevent these illegal crossings and to crack down on the criminal networks behind them. It also said that it was providing humanitarian assistance to those who were rescued.
Renewed calls to offer safe and legal routes for migrants
The incident has sparked renewed calls for more cooperation and solidarity between the UK and France, as well as other European countries, to address the root causes of migration and to offer safe and legal routes for those who need protection.