According to British media, at least three people have been killed in a boating accident in the English Channel. This is reported by the PA news agency based on a government source. 43 people are said to have been rescued alive. The number of deaths is expected to rise even further.
According to information from Sky News, some 30 to 50 migrants were said to have been on the boat that went into distress in the early morning hours on Wednesday. Footage released by the broadcaster shows people climbing out of an overcrowded black inflatable boat onto a lifeboat in the dark.
Dangerous journey in freezing cold
The Coast Guard, along with the army, police and border guards, coordinated a search and rescue mission involving at least two helicopters and British and French lifeboats and military boats. It was initially unclear what exactly happened to the crashed boat.
The search for missing persons will continue for the rest of the day, Sky News reported, citing internal sources. However, due to the cold temperatures – in recent nights these have dropped below zero in the region – no survivors are expected.
“For someone to make this journey in these temperatures shows how desperate people are,” said Alex Fraser of the British Red Cross. “No one risks their life unless they feel there is no other option.”
The government is taking a hard line
It is not the first time that the English Channel has become a death trap for those hoping for a better future on the other side: just over a year ago, a boating accident in the English Channel killed some 30 people.
According to the British Ministry of Defense, some 40,000 people had already made the dangerous journey across the English Channel by mid-November this year. Last year there were about 28,500 people. Other routes – such as road or rail – are used less after Brexit and corona restrictions due to stricter checks by asylum seekers.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (42) only announced plans on Tuesday to take even tougher action against illegal migration. Interior Minister Suella Braverman (42), who is known for her radical line on migration, wrote on Twitter that she was thinking of all those affected after the “crushing incident”. At noon, the conservative politician wanted to comment on the accident in the House of Representatives.
Criticism of “hostile politics”
Tim Naoir Hilton, head of refugee organization Refugee Action, said the disaster was “caused by hostile government policies aimed at keeping people out of the country rather than keeping them safe”.
The crossings are a thorn in the side of the Conservative government in London. She wants to deter the migrants with drastic measures. For example, people who have entered the country illegally, regardless of their asylum status, are flown out to East African Rwanda. The controversial practice is currently being investigated by the court.
Gaining control over who enters the country and under what conditions was one of the key promises of Brexit. In fact, this has become even more difficult for Britons after leaving the EU, as they are no longer part of EU-wide rules on the jurisdiction of asylum procedures. (SDA)
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
