Two individuals confirmed deceased after a small boat overturns en route from France to UK
There have been tragic events as an overloaded small boat capsized less than a kilometre from the French shore. The boat was carrying more than 50 migrants and sank shortly after setting off from the French coast near Neufchatel-Hardelot to cross the English Channel. As a result, two people have drowned, while one survivor was airlifted from the scene. Additionally, at least 57 others, suffering from hypothermia, were rescued by boat and taken to the French town of Boulogne-sur-Mer. Several other small boats from the French coast also got into difficulty in French waters soon after 1 p.m. and drowned. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and the coastguard helicopter were involved in the rescue mission. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency has confirmed that HM Coastguard was working with the French Coastguard in response to this tragic incident. This is a tragic reminder of the extreme dangers of this evil trade, and of how vital it is that we stop the boats.
Last week, the UK government’s plans to transport asylum seekers to Rwanda were ruled to be unlawful by the UK Supreme Court, which deals a blow to the government’s controversial asylum policy. The Rwanda policy was backed by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and former Home Secretary Suella Braverman, and the government is determined to break the business model of these evil people-smuggling gangs and protect the borders. However, Amnesty International UK’s refugee and migrant rights director, Steve Valdez-Symonds, suggested that the UK government must change its focus and accept its part in providing safety by ensuring safe routes for asylum seekers. The chief executive of the Refugee Council, Enver Solomon, also called for safe routes for asylum seekers to prevent them from taking dangerous journeys across the world’s busiest shipping lane.
A recent survey by Migration Watch showed that 52 percent of respondents considered small boat migrants as a security threat to the UK, with skilled workers and Conservative party supporters being particularly pronounced in this sentiment.
PA contributed to this report.
