Migrant tragedy in the Channel

In 2021, 23,000 migrants have crossed the Channel to Britain from France by boat. Last week, this dangerous journey resulted in the deaths of 27 people, including three children. Emergency services were called out, but only two people survived.

Migrants who are unable to get visas to enter the UK instead pay people smugglers. They promise to bring migrants across Europe to the UK. However, the final part of this journey involves small, inflatable boats which are unsuitable for such a busy shipping lane.

Gerald Darmanin, French Interior Minister, blames smugglers for the deaths.

Gerald Darmanin: "I want to say here that the first people responsible for this despicable situation are the smugglers. That is to say criminals who, for a few thousand euros, organise the trafficking of human beings from Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa and Asia. And who then use these people to bring them to Belgium, the Netherlands and France, especially, to cross the Channel and reach Great Britain."

In the French port of Calais, homeless migrants wait to make their journey to the UK.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is keen to end these illegal journeys. He’s called for countries to join together to control trafficking.

Boris Johnson: "Of course we have to work with our French friends, with our European partners. And I say to our partners across the Channel, now is the time for us all to step up, to work together, to do everything we can to break these gangs, who are literally getting away with murder."

Four smugglers who are responsible for the recent tragedy have been caught. 1,500 traffickers have been caught this year by the French authorities.

Although European countries agree that there needs to be a united effort, they rejected suggestions from Johnson. These had been tweeted in a letter to French President Macron.

Medhi Dimpre, a Calais resident, wants action.

Mehdi Dimpre: "It's serious, it makes me angry. It's not normal that things happen like that. And it's not normal that at the political level this is where we are today. It's not normal – makes me angry!" View Less