More than 15,000 people have crossed the Channel this year. According to the French coastguard, some people remained on the boat despite rescues and continued to try to reach the UK.
By Tim Baker, political journalist
Sunday 28 July 2024 11:55, United Kingdom
A person has been found dead near Calais after a small boat attempted to cross the English Channel from France to the UK overnight, French authorities say.
Thirty-four other people were rescued and taken to emergency services after a vessel ran into difficulties.
According to the French coastguard, several boats are still at sea.
Crossings in small boats COVID-19 cases have reached a record high for this time of year and a string of deaths have been reported in recent weeks.
According to British statistics, 1,500 people crossed the world’s busiest shipping lane in the week ending July 21 on 27 boats, an average of 55 to 56 people per ship.
And 1,007 people on 33 boats were prevented from crossing during the same period.
In total, more than 15,000 people made the crossing this year.
According to the French coastguard, rescue operations began around 5:30 a.m. when they discovered the boat in difficulty.
People on board called for help. The coastguard found one person unconscious when they arrived on board.
They were later pronounced dead and taken to hospital.
Learn more:
Small boat crossings to exceed 15,000 by 2024
Nearly 12,000 people smuggling ads removed
Four migrants die during attempted crossing
Despite the 34 people rescued from the boat and the one person dying, the coastguard said several people remained on the small boat and were being monitored because it was decided that interrupting them would risk injury or causing them to fall into the water.
Following the general election and change of government, the UK’s approach to tackling illegal immigration has changed.
Mr Keir Starmer abandoned the plan to expel Rwandaand instead tries to work with other countries to prevent people from undertaking this journey in the first place.
He announced £84m package funding aid to countries in Africa and the Middle East to combat migration “at source”.
The prime minister discussed migration in phone calls with President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Emir Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar over the weekend.
In the conversation with Mr Kagame, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “They discussed their shared commitment to continue working together on solutions to tackle illegal migration.
“They agreed that this was an urgent global challenge and that breaking the business model of criminal gangs that profit from people’s suffering must be the priority.”
And regarding the discussion with the Qatari leader, the spokesman said: “The Emir praised the Prime Minister’s early action to combat illegal immigration, saying it is a global challenge that needs to be addressed collaboratively.”
