Hundreds of Migrants Rescued in the English Channel, Crossing Attempts Continue Despite Increased Measures. New Migration Agreement Between London and Paris Faces Criticism and Legal Challenges.
French authorities announced the rescue of 185 migrants over Friday and Saturday in French waters, while they were attempting to reach England via irregular boats.
During two separate operations on Friday morning, 81 people were rescued from a boat that departed from the Bay of Somme in northern France. Another 80 people were rescued after their boat sustained damage off the coast of Equihen-Plage in the north.
At dawn on Saturday, 24 passengers were rescued from another boat while attempting to cross the English Channel. Other passengers on board decided to continue their journey.
The English Channel is the waterway that separates southern England and northern France, and is approximately 560 kilometers long, while it is only about 34 kilometers wide at its narrowest point.
According to official figures issued by the British Home Office, none of the small boats used in illegal crossing attempts reached England on Friday.
Despite the continuous strengthening of French resources to prevent crossings, and with significant financial support from the United Kingdom, these attempts continue. More than 36,300 migrants have arrived in England on small boats since the beginning of the year.
This number is close to the number of migrants who arrived on small boats during the same period in 2022, which was 37,600 migrants, and constituted a record number.
It is estimated that at least 27 migrants have died this year while attempting to cross the French-British border irregularly.
A new migration agreement between London and Paris came into effect last August, and is based on the exchange of migrants between the two countries on a “one for one” basis. For every person returned from the United Kingdom, London accepts the entry of another person from France legally.
However, this arrangement, which has been widely criticized by non-governmental organizations, faces legal challenges, and remains largely symbolic, and does not deter the vast majority of migrants from attempting to cross the English Channel irregularly.
source: 961 today