A ship capsizing in the Channel kills at least 12 migrants

The French Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, stated that rescue efforts were in progress to locate the two persons who remained missing, and that at least twelve migrants perished on Tuesday as a result of their boat capsizing while traveling across the Channel to Britain.

The governments of France and Britain have made combating illegal immigration a top priority. According to UK official estimates, almost 2,000 migrants have arrived in Britain over the last seven days on tiny boats.

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, and Keir Starmer, the prime minister of Great Britain, promised last week to collaborate more closely to shut down migrant smuggling routes.

The majority of the victims were from Africa, with several coming from Eritrea, a local French official informed reporters. Darmanin said that among the victims were some youngsters.

“These human traffickers—who are actual criminals—are killing men and women,” Darmanin said to reporters.

Additionally, British Interior Minister Yvette Cooper described the fatalities as a “horrifying and deeply tragic incident” and stated that efforts needed to break up “dangerous and criminal smuggler gangs and to strengthen border security are… vital and must proceed apace.”

The Channel is one of the busiest shipping channels in the world, and tiny vessels should be cautious when crossing due to the high currents. A boat carrying migrants trying to cross the Channel ran into trouble in August, and two bodies were discovered.

“Every political leader, on both sides of our Channel, needs to be asked how many lives will be lost before they end these avoidable tragedies?” According to Care4Calais NGO CEO Steve Smith.

“Their continued obsession, and investment, in security measures is not reducing crossings, it is simply pushing people to take ever increasing risks to do so.”