Overcrowded dinghy scenes highlight dangers as Channel crossings rise
Footage from northern France shows people trying to board an overcrowded small boat fighting over space, with the dinghy dipping towards the water. The scenes come amid a sharp rise in Channel crossings after a three-week pause, and highlight the dangerous conditions in which people are attempting the journey.
Figures cited in the article say 671 people arrived in the UK on nine boats on Friday, compared with 263 on three boats the previous day; 934 arrived in total across 12 boats over the two days. Kent County Council figures cited by the article say 2,182 children have crossed alone since January. It also describes a separate incident in which a migrant reportedly threatened another person with a knife while trying to board a boat.
In short
- 671 people arrived on nine small boats on Friday.
- Crossings resumed after a three-week pause.
- Footage shows fights over space on an overcrowded dinghy.
Explained simply
The English Channel is the stretch of sea between northern France and southern England. People who want to reach the UK sometimes attempt the crossing in small boats, often travelling from the French coast; these boats can be crowded and conditions at sea can be dangerous.
The people making the journey may include adults and children travelling alone. UK and French authorities deal with arrivals and attempts to cross, while councils in areas such as Kent help care for children who arrive without a parent or guardian. The risks of the crossing and the support needed by those who arrive are central to the wider debate about Channel migration.
Read the full article at the source →
Originally published by Daily Mail as “Violent migrants attack each other in their desperation to cram into small boats headed for UK after 671 arrived yesterday”.