More than 20,000 migrants have already made the perilous crossing on small boats across the English Channel this year. That is almost twice as much as in the same period last year. In 2021, at this time of year, it was just 11,300. In total, the government counted 28,526 crossings last year.
This is evident from official figures from the British government, the PA news agency reported on Sunday. This is a significant increase compared to last year.
The crossings from France to Britain, which have increased since Brexit and the corona pandemic, partly due to stricter controls on land routes, are a thorn in the side of the Conservative government in London. Gaining control over one’s borders was one of the central promises of the EU exit campaign.
The British therefore want to fly certain asylum seekers of different nationalities to Rwanda and have concluded a controversial pact with the East African country for this purpose. The two remaining candidates to succeed outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson want to stick to the plan, which the United Nations sees as a violation of international law.
Last November, a tragic accident occurred in the English Channel when 27 people died after their dinghy capsized.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
