12 people died including a pregnant woman and several minors mainly of Eritrean origin in an attempt to illegally cross the channel from France to the UK. Paris has blamed London for the migrant crisis and the latest death toll.
Six children and a pregnant woman are among at least 12 people who lost their lives after a boat carrying asylum seekers to the UK was torn apart in one of the deadliest Channel tragedies since the small boats crisis began. The incident presents a significant challenge for Keir Starmer’s government, which faces growing pressure from charities to establish safe routes for those seeking asylum in the UK. French authorities reported that 10 of the victims were female, with many believed to be from Eritrea.
French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced that more than 50 people were rescued, including two in critical condition, after the “terrible shipwreck” off Cap Gris-Nez on Tuesday morning. Only eight of the 70 passengers were wearing lifejackets, according to French officials.
The tragedy, which forced everyone on board into the sea, is thought to be the second deadliest incident involving people attempting to cross the Channel since the small boats crisis began. In response, the UK Prime Minister is facing calls to establish legal routes to prevent refugees from taking such perilous journeys to claim asylum in the UK. Darmanin also urged for a new migration treaty between the UK and the EU to facilitate asylum seekers’ journeys.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper described the incident as “horrifying and deeply tragic,” stressing the need for “vital” efforts to dismantle “dangerous and criminal smuggler gangs” and enhance border security. Cooper stated she was in contact with the French government and receiving updates on the situation, expressing condolences to the victims’ families and those injured.
The French authorities responded to the incident when a dinghy encountered trouble off Le Portel, about 28 miles southwest of Calais. All passengers ended up in the water, many without lifejackets, according to the French coastguard. The shipwreck occurred in French waters, and UK search and rescue vessels were on standby.
Boulogne-sur-Mer prosecutor Guirec Le Bras confirmed that at least 12 people died, including six minors and 10 females. He noted that most victims were “primarily of Eritrean origin,” though exact nationalities have not been confirmed. The mayor of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Frédéric Cuvillier, confirmed that a pregnant woman was among the victims.
Over the past week, more than 2,000 asylum seekers have arrived in the UK via small boats, with 600 arriving on August 28 and 351 on September 2. This tragedy follows several recent fatal incidents, including two deaths on August 11 and one on July 19, underscoring the urgent need for safer routes.
Charities have called for safe routes from France to prevent further deaths, with Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, highlighting the “shockingly high” number of fatalities this year. Solomon emphasized that enforcement alone is not the solution, warning that heightened security measures on the French coast have led to more dangerous crossings.
Amnesty International UK and Safe Passage International echoed these concerns, demanding the government prioritize opening new safe routes. In 2023, the UK agreed to pay £476 million over three years to help France police the sea border. However, Darmanin argued that the UK contributes only “a fraction” of what France spends on preventing migrant deaths in the Channel, calling for a new migration treaty between the UK and the EU.
The Channel is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes, with strong currents making small boat crossings perilous. People smugglers often overload flimsy dinghies, making the journey even more dangerous.
The worst Channel disaster in 30 years occurred on November 24, 2021, when 31 people died after repeated SOS calls to French and UK emergency services went unanswered. Over 30 people have died in Channel crossings this year, with 12 deaths or disappearances reported last year. The International Organisation for Migration estimates that 226 people, including 35 children, have died or gone missing while attempting the crossing since January this year.
Labour has pledged to crack down on small boat crossings by targeting people smugglers, a strategy similar to that of the previous Conservative government. In response to calls for safe routes, Border Security and Asylum Minister Angela Eagle stated that while some safe routes exist, the demand far exceeds the number of available options. She stressed that the solution lies in tackling people-smuggling gangs and the exploitation they facilitate.
French rescue workers quickly packed up their gear after the incident, leaving behind a few officials standing by the harbour. Boulogne’s mayor, Frédéric Cuvillier, expressed deep sadness, noting how this ongoing migrant crisis has traumatized France’s northern coastline. He lamented that those fleeing death only to die in the Channel had hoped for a better life across the water.
In the UK, officials focus on condemning smuggling gangs, while in northern France, the reaction centers on the migrants’ motives and the belief that the crisis is largely Britain’s fault. Many French citizens, frustrated by the impact on their communities, see the crisis as driven more by the demand of determined migrants than by criminal networks.
French Interior Minister Darmanin reiterated the need for a new migrant treaty between the UK and the EU, arguing that Britain’s loosely regulated job market acts as a magnet for migrants from countries like Eritrea, Sudan, Afghanistan, Syria, and Iraq. He emphasized that despite efforts to tackle smuggling gangs, the crisis will persist unless the underlying demand is addressed. Unlike in the UK, where the small boat crisis dominates headlines, the situation in France, despite its severity, receives relatively little attention.
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