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channel crossings by migrants exceed 2023 total with safety concerns
The data published by The Home Office reveals that arrivals of migrants crossing the English Channel has already topped the total count of last year. New crossings make the 2024 total equal 29,578 which means it has been above the 2023 total of 29,43. Dover Strait is still fraught for migrants as can be illustrated by the recent incident where an infant died. Increasing migrant numbers were accompanied by growing focus on the protection issue and necessity for improving standards for sealing routes.
Rising Dangers in the Channel
Similarly, hazards are inherent for individuals who try to cross the Dover Strait and most of them attempt to do it with the help of the small and unsafe ships. This channel is easily one of the most popular waterways in the world; it has a total width of 350 km and up to 30 km at its narrowest crossing; daily, more than 600 vessels ply through it. On Thursday 76 lives were saved as three boats with migrants were in life-threatening situations; the French coast guard intervened.
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Still tragic events occur even after attempts for rescue. One can only imagine the tragic end of a forty days trip; Maryam Bahez, an infant barely one month old, died in a boat that capsized shortly after leaving France. After such sharp increases in crossings alongside difficult and unpredictable seas, stronger means are needed to protect lives and to discourage these dangerous crossings.
Comparison of The UK and French Responses to The Crisis
To curb the increase, officials in the UK & France are putting into practice new actions. The new Health Secretary and recently appointed Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has established a UK Borders Security Command for combating human smuggling and immigration offences. This new unit is aimed at disrupting the trafficking networks which are common in Europe and controlling the increasing numbers of crossings through the Channel.
The French coastguard on its part has been making several calls against the act saying that the crossing is perilous. As well as the Channel, which is ranked among the most crowded sea zones in terms of the ship traffic density, both countries are developing cooperation in saving people’s lives and strengthening the control over the border. With reference to these security and safety issues, authorities aim to avoid such sad cases in the future.
