As of: 09/16/2022 4:08 p.m
Migrants keep trying to cross the English Channel in small boats. 38 were now in acute danger because their inflatable boat lost air. All could be saved – after part of an hour in the water.
According to their own statements, British forces have rescued 38 people from the English Channel – presumably they are migrants. The dinghy they were traveling in suddenly lost air rapidly early Thursday morning, the Ministry of Defense said in London.
Some people would have spent almost an hour in the water. They were taken to the port city of Dover. Her condition is stable, there are no deaths. A total of more than 600 migrants in 14 boats reached the country on Thursday.
More migrants cross the English Channel
According to estimates, around 29,700 people have dared the dangerous crossing across the English Channel from France to Great Britain so far this year. That is already significantly more than in the previous year, when the government counted around 28,500 migrants in total.
According to official information, the number of people on the individual boats has also increased significantly this year: from an average of 28 in 2021 to 44 in 2022 so far.
Most of the Channel crossings this year were recorded on August 22nd: almost 1300 people in 27 ships. It is believed that the increase in the number of crossings is related to improved weather conditions in summer.
Most recently, the government said it was amazing that there had been no serious incidents so far this year. In November 2021, 27 people died in the English Channel after their inflatable boat capsized.
Rigorous deterrence measures
The conservative British government is trying to take action against illegal crossings. As a deterrent, migrants are to be flown to Rwanda and apply for asylum in the East African country instead of in Great Britain.
If the request is granted, they should stay there. Otherwise they face deportation to their countries of origin. The United Nations refugee agency sees the plan as a breach of international law.