In the past year, approximately 44,000 individuals have undertaken the perilous journey, and organizations are concerned that a similar event may occur again.
On the anniversary of the incident, the charity stated that the government “learned nothing” from the preventable deaths of 31 individuals in the English Channel.
On November 24, 2021, a rubber dinghy carrying 34 individuals sank while attempting the perilous passage from France to the United Kingdom.
The majority of individuals on board perished in the Dover Strait’s deadliest migrant disaster ever, including an unborn child.
This evening, the refugee charity Care4Calais will organize a vigil for the deceased in Parliament Square, while another is expected in Dunkirk, France.
The government expressed its condolences to the victims’ families and asserted that its controversial Nationality and Borders Act is affecting people smugglers.
Zana Mamand Mohammad, whose brother was killed in the disaster, said, “My adolescent brother, one year after your disappearance, I have tried ceaselessly and knocked on every door to learning anything about you.
“I continue to watch my phone for a message or call from you. I am attempting to secure justice for you and your companions.”
In the days following the tragedy, there was an uproar from the public, and politicians on both sides of the English Channel were eager to denounce human traffickers and demand remedies.
According to figures from the PA news agency, about 44,000 people have made the dangerous crossing in the past year, and the number continues to rise.
Tim Naor Hilton, chief executive of Refugee Action, told that the government has learned nothing from last year’s catastrophe.
He accused the administration of “continuing to heap animosity upon asylum-seekers.”
He said, “There are no safe routes for the vast majority of people to enter the United Kingdom, a backlog that is snowballing, tens of thousands of people warehoused in hotels, and hundreds of millions wasted on a Rwanda deal, drones, a work ban, and other cruel and unsuccessful deterrence tactics.
This animosity increases the likelihood that a tragedy will occur, whether in the English Channel or among asylum-seekers living in poverty and isolation in the United Kingdom.
According to an initial report on the catastrophe, French and British rescue services handed responsibilities to one another during the tragic episode.
It was stated that passengers first contacted rescue agencies at about 2:00 a.m. and continued to do so for nearly two hours.
Steve Valdez-Symonds, director of refugee and migrant rights at Amnesty International UK, “Today we remember men, women, and children who perished in the English Channel while seeking asylum in the United Kingdom.
This tragedy could have been prevented if governments on both sides of these waters had prioritized the lives, welfare, and rights of these individuals, particularly their ability to seek refuge.
“The plain fact is that individuals escaping conflict and persecution will continue to undertake these dangerous journeys, whether by boat or other means if governments refuse to share responsibility for providing safe access to properly functioning asylum systems.”
A government spokeswoman stated, “Our prayers are with the families of those who perished in November’s awful catastrophe.
“We cannot allow a recurrence of this tragic tragedy, which is why we are working with our international allies to dismantle the human smuggling organizations responsible for these perilous crossings, who endanger lives with every journey they arrange.
“As is customary in such situations, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch is undertaking a safety investigation concentrating on the emergency reaction to the incident, with the full cooperation of HM Coastguard and the Home Office.”
