27 migrants killed, 2 saved, one missing as boat capsizes in English Channel

Paris, Nov 25: At least 27 migrants died after a boat capsized in the English Channel off Calais coast, northern France, said French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin.
CNN quoted the minister on Wednesday as saying that five women and a girl were among the deceased and only two people were saved. One person is missing.
This comes just few weeks after France dismantled a large migrant camp on its northern coast where a large number of people had settled with hope to reach the UK.
French officers pulled down tents and evacuated up to 1,500 migrants from the site, near Dunkirk, last week, BBC reported.
Following the incident, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron have announced the decision to step up efforts to stop the dreadly crossings of the English Channel by the migrants.
They also extended their condolences to the families of the deceased.
The President said, “To the families of the victims, to their loved ones, I want to express my compassion and the unconditional support of France.
“I assure them that everything will be done to find and condemn those responsible, networks of smugglers who exploit misery and distress, endanger human lives and ultimately decimate families.”
He further said France and the UK had beenn working for past several months to break the smuggling networks.
He said, “Since the beginning of 2021, thanks to the mobilization of 600 police officers and gendarmes, 1,552 smugglers have been arrested on the northern coast and 44 smuggling networks have been dismantled.
“Despite this action, 47,000 attempts to cross to Great Britain have been made since January 1, with 7,800 migrants saved by our rescue services.”
Meanwhile, the UK PM said he was “shocked and appalled, and deeply saddened by the loss of life at sea.”
Speaking on the deadly crossings, he said, “I also want to say that this disaster underscores how dangerous it is to cross the Channel in this way.
“And it also shows how vital it is that we now step up our efforts to break the business model of the gangsters who are sending people to sea in this way, and that’s why it’s so important that we accelerate if we possibly can all the measures contained in our borders … so that we distinguish between people who come here legally, and people who come here illegally.”
According to CNN, 243 people were rescued in the English Channel last week as they tried to cross to the UK. UNI