Record migrant crossings in Channel amid tragic deaths

A record 973 migrants crossed the Channel on small boats on Saturday, coinciding with the tragic deaths of four individuals, including a two-year-old boy, during the perilous journey from France to England, according to UK Home Office data.

According to news reports, this marks the highest single-day total for 2024, surpassing the previous record of 882 set in June.

The fatalities were attributed to overloaded boats that encountered difficulties during the crossing, raising the death toll for migrants attempting the journey this year to 51, as reported by Jacques Billant, France’s prefect for the Pas-de-Calais region. Over 26,600 migrants have made the crossing in small boats this year.

UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper expressed her dismay over the loss of life, emphasizing the role of criminal smuggler gangs in orchestrating these dangerous crossings, condemning their indifference to human life, calling it a “terrible trade in lives.”

As the general election approaches, the Labour government, led by Keir Starmer, is under pressure to address the issue of cross-Channel arrivals and has vowed to dismantle the networks of people smugglers responsible for these hazardous journeys.