Several migrant aid associations said Monday their “dismay” after the revelations deemed “unbearable” from the newspaper Le Monde on the conditions of the shipwreck that occurred in November 2021 in the English Channel where 27 people perished.
“It is dismaying to see that there has been a lot of energy given by both sides, French and British, to demonstrate that it was up to the other party to take charge of the rescue and rescue”, commented Lydie Arbogast, responsible for European issues at Cimade, an association supporting migrants and refugees. It denounces “the militarization of this border” while France and the United Kingdom sealed a new agreement on Monday against migrant crossings in the Channel.
“We are horrified”
In its edition dated Monday, The world claims that the passengers of a “small boat” which sank on the night of November 23 to 24, 2021 in the English Channel called the French authorities fifteen times to ask for their help. Without success. The newspaper, which says it has consulted elements of the judicial investigation carried out in Paris into this tragedy, also suggests that the French rescuers waited for the castaways to drift into English waters.
“We are horrified. What this describes is the complete lack of coordination of rescue operations at sea and their trivialization, which means that no one has taken the measure of the danger for people, “commented Delphine Rouilleault, Director General of France Land of asylum. “We are struck that the agreement (signed between Paris and London) does not raise the question of the coordination of rescue operations at sea”, she added.
“One of the most dangerous seas in the world”
“The content of the published exchanges is unbearable”, judged the association Utopia 56, which helps exiled people. “The families of the victims demand that France and the United Kingdom recognize their responsibilities in this tragedy”.
“The CROSS Gris Nez teams do everything they can to save human lives on a daily basis, that’s their credo. For having spent a night with them, they have all my support, ”said Wing Vice-Admiral Marc Véran, maritime prefect of the Channel and the North Sea, to AFP.
“The sad events of 24 November last which saw 27 people perish at sea are heartbreaking and are still the subject of an investigation; it alone will make it possible to establish the facts”, he added, recalling the numerous rescues under the aegis of the Cross “in one of the most dangerous seas in the world”.