- Tragic boat accident claims five lives in English Channel
- UK approves measure to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda
- Government aims to deter human trafficking, faces international concern
Five asylum seekers, one of whom was a child, perished in an overcrowded small boat as they crossed the English Channel from France to Britain hours after the British government approved a measure to deport some asylum seekers to Rwanda.
Approximately 32 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of the French port of Calais, the vessel transporting 112 individuals departed Wimereux in order to traverse one of the busiest shipping lanes on the planet.
Four of the 49 individuals rescued by rescuers were transported to hospitals, while the remaining 49 continued their voyage to Britain aboard the vessel.
“This morning at dawn, a tragic incident transpired aboard a vessel that was overcrowded with migrants.” “We express our sincere sorrow over the tragic loss of five lives—a woman, three men, a seven-year-old girl,” said local prefect Jacques Billant to reporters on Tuesday.
“A few hundred metres from the shore, the engine came to a halt, and several individuals dove into the water.”
The French coastguard reported that 58 individuals remained on board and that it continued to look for additional survivors.
“They were opposed to being rescued.” “They restarted the engine and continued their journey towards Britain,” Billant explained.
This year, over 6,000 individuals have entered the United Kingdom on overcrowded, small vessels that are at risk of being lashed by waves as they attempt to reach the country’s shores.
Two years have been spent by the government of the United Kingdom attempting to obtain sanction for a contentious policy that would send asylum seekers to Rwanda. Overnight, the British Parliament eventually passed legislation authorising the deportations.
Ten to twelve weeks, according to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, is sufficient time for additional legal challenges from unions, charities, and activists.
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Sunak stated to reporters on Tuesday that the government’s action was motivated by compassion and an effort to prevent human traffickers from evicting helpless individuals at sea.
“An increasing number of individuals are being crammed into these unseaworthy dinghies.” “The numbers have increased dramatically over the last few years,” he explained. “This is what occurs tragically.”
Those who arrive in Britain irregularly after January 1, 2022, will be transferred to Rwanda, located approximately 6,400 kilometres (4,000 miles), in accordance with the Rwanda scheme. Since that date, more than 50,000 individuals have arrived, according to official statistics.
Tuesday, the Council of Europe and the United Nations refugee agency both urged the United Kingdom to reconsider its plans out of concern that it could jeopardise international cooperation in addressing the global migration crisis.
European judges prevented the initial deportation flight to Rwanda, which was scheduled for June 2022. The subsequent year, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom rendered a verdict declaring the one-way transportation of asylum claimants to Kigali unlawful and hazardous.
Austria and Germany, among other European nations, are also considering agreements regarding the processing of asylum applicants in third countries.
