French rescuers successfully saved 107 migrants from drowning in the English Channel on Christmas Day. The French Ports Authority reported that 12 rescue operations took place along the northern coast, including one involving a boat that had experienced engine failure.
Christmas Day started with the rescue of 30 migrants from a boat near Dunkirk. The remaining passengers chose to continue their journey to England. Maritime authorities reported that these passengers were detained by British officials upon entering British waters. Meanwhile, over 100 individuals arrived at Dover Port, as stated by British port authorities.
Fifty-one migrants were rescued from a boat experiencing engine trouble near Dunkirk. Later, 26 individuals were saved from a vessel struggling to navigate near Calais. The French Ports Authority stated, “The English Channel is an exceptionally dangerous area, especially during the peak of winter, for overloaded and dilapidated boats.”
Stormy weather had made crossing the Channel impossible in recent days, but a relative improvement in conditions encouraged dozens of boats to attempt the crossing.
According to the Pas-de-Calais regional authority, over 73 migrants have died while attempting to cross the English Channel to Britain this year. French authorities have reported that 2024 saw the highest number of migrant deaths ever recorded in the Channel.
The Labour government in Britain is actively working to reduce migration across the English Channel, which tens of thousands of migrants use to reach the UK. The British government has committed to taking strong action against human smuggling networks.
Last month, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged for enhanced international cooperation to tackle human trafficking networks, which he referred to as a global security threat on par with terrorism. In recent weeks, law enforcement agencies from several European countries have conducted raids aimed at dismantling these human smuggling networks.
