more crossings than in 2023, a record number of deaths… Repression on the coasts raises questions

more crossings than in 2023, a record number of deaths… Repression on the coasts raises questions
more crossings than in 2023, a record number of deaths… Repression on the coasts raises questions

Despite the increased militarization of the Channel coast and the North Sea, since the beginning of January 2024, nearly 30,000 people have managed to reach England: this is already more than in 2023. The year 2024 is the deadliest since the crossings began.

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The figures for crossings and the number of deaths in 2024 seem to show the ineffectiveness of the migration repression policy on the French coasts. This is what Utopia 56 deplores at the end of October.

The exile aid association warns of the ongoing humanitarian crisis on the coast of the Channel and the North Sea. Campaigners are highlighting the latest figures from the English government – ​​updated daily – regarding the number of arrivals to the UK.

As of October 29, 29,878 people have reached the British border since the start of 2024. This is more than in all of 2023: 29,437 people arrived in England via the Channel.

This means that there are still just as many people trying to cross, if not more. The number of people arriving and the number of deaths increasing clearly shows the failure of migration policy”, estimates Angèle Vettorello, coordinator of the Utopia 56 branch in .

The number of people arriving and the number of deaths increasing clearly shows the failure of migration policy.

Angela Vettorello

coordinator of the Utopia 56 branch in Calais

Since the start of the year, 60 people have lost their lives trying to reach England. That’s more than one death every five days. A report which does not take into account all the missing people whose bodies have never been found.

Also read >>> Migrants: four people died trying to cross the Channel this Wednesday, October 30, 60 deaths in 2024

Following the four deaths on Wednesday, October 30 in the Hardelot-Equihen sector (Pas-de-Calais), Jacques Billant, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, emphasized that the months of September and October had been “particularly deadly”: in two months, “twenty-five people lost their lives”, he affirmed. More than the total number of deaths in 2023.

The prefect, while speaking about the events of the day, made a point of “ensure [son] deep support in the mission of safeguarding human life which falls to police officers and gendarmes”. “Without the heroic intervention of the police, the death toll would have been much higher.”, he says.

Since January 1, 5,000 people have been rescued at sea, an equal number of lives saved”, specifies the prefect of Pas-de-Calais. On Wednesday October 30 alone, around ten operations were carried out by the maritime prefecture, rescuing 600 people.

Since January 1, 5,000 people have been rescued at sea, or as many lives saved.

Jacques Billant

prefect of Pas-de-Calais

At the start of summer 2024, the Hauts-de-France prefecture announced that it would mobilize 1,150 police officers and gendarmes on its coast and 3,000 throughout the region during the summer period, to fight against illegal departures.

Also read >>> Migration crisis. 1,150 police forces mobilized on the coast this summer, “militarization never ends” reacts Utopia 56

Utopia 56 then denounced this repressive strategy. After a few months of hindsight, the fears of the activists were confirmed: “We see an overmilitarization of the coastline, from the Bay of to Belgium”, explains Angèle Vettorello. The association therefore calls on the government to “change paradigm”. “Border security is reaching a point where it is unnecessary and dangerous”, whispers the young woman. “It puts people in vulnerable situations and leads to ever more deaths.

Rush, poorly inflated boats, increasingly overloaded boats, departures further and further along the coast, chaos due to tear gas from the police… On the ground, Utopia 56 notes that the increased police presence on the beaches push migrants to take ever more risks.

Also read >>> Police violence against migrants: for the Utopia 56 association, “these are everyday methods”

A phenomenon has also started to take on more and more importance over the past year, that of “taxis boats”. “To prevent the police from collapsing the boat on land, the smugglers inflate it and put it in the water further from the boat's starting point, on another beach.”, explains Angèle Vettorello. Smugglers therefore approach the coast much less. Instead of boarding the boat directly on the beach, the migrants “run towards the sea, enter the water and swim”specifies the activist. Sometimes with children under my arm.

To prevent the police from collapsing the boat on land, the smugglers inflate it and put it in the water further away.

Angela Vettorello

coordinator of the Utopia 56 branch in Calais

THE “taxis boats” therefore lead people to put themselves in even greater danger. “The risk of drowning increases”, indicates the volunteer. When entering the water, with the chaos reigning on the beach, then with the strong currents of the sea but also when the migrants try to get on board: “a certain number do not succeed”.

Another danger: hypothermia. “In these conditions, once soaked, the chances of survival on land or on boat diminish. There, we start to have water close to ten degrees. And in the morning it can be four or five degrees.”

In four months, we were contacted by 5,800 people who attempted the crossing. This gives an idea of ​​the scale of the humanitarian crisis on the northern coast.

Angela Vettorello

coordinator of the Utopia 56 branch in Calais

According to the association, on good weather days, hundreds of people rush to the beaches to attempt the crossing. “In four months, we were contacted by 5,800 people who attempted the crossing”, affirms Angèle Vettorello. “This gives an idea of ​​the scale of the humanitarian crisis on the northern coast.“It is clear that people are not giving up on their crossing plans, despite the repression and the tragedies.

The prefect of Pas-de-Calais Jacques Billant also sees this clearly: “Despite these terrible events, there are still large numbers of migrants trying to set sail as soon as the weather windows become favorable.”.

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