According to French authorities, the victims came from Afghanistan. All six are said to be around 30 years old. The rescued migrants, who were taken to the coast of France and England, are also believed to include children. They mostly come from Afghanistan, but there are also some Sudanese.

Rescue operation

A massive rescue operation was launched from France and the UK at around 6am this morning. The countries have received reports that dozens of boats are trying to cross at the same time.

The French Vice President for Mobility, Infrastructure and Port Transport in the Hauts-deFrance region wrote in the Channel and in the Mediterranean.”

Four French ships, one helicopter and two British ships were involved in the rescue operation. It happened near Sangetten, in northern France. The search continues for other possible victims.

Small boat

Since 2018, more than 100,000 migrants have crossed Strait I illegally in small boats. The route is dangerous: at least five migrants died during the crossing last year.

In November 2021, 27 migrants died when their boat sank. Last Thursday, 755 migrants were discovered as they were en route to the UK on fourteen boats. This is the largest number in one day this year.

According to French newspaper Le Parisien, this took a long time number of attempts on the Channel again this week, because the weather conditions have improved.

The British government has been trying to reduce illegal migration across the English Channel for years, but has so far been unsuccessful. In March it was announced that Britain would send hundreds of millions of euros a year to France for beach patrols and other measures to deter migrants.