Off the coast of Pas-de-Calais, 107 migrants were rescued at Christmas

Due to favorable weather conditions, “numerous departures of migrant boats” were observed on the coast of northern France, the maritime prefecture reported on Thursday.

A total of 107 migrants in distress at sea were rescued, Wednesday December 25, by French means, according to a report from the maritime prefecture of the Channel and the North Sea (Prémar). “The day was intense, but apparently without casualties”a spokesperson told AFP. Due to favorable weather conditions, “many departures of migrant boats” were observed on the coast of northern France, from Dieppe (Seine-Maritime) to Leffrinckoucke near Dunkirk (North).

Throughout the day, 12 assistance and rescue operations were coordinated by the Gris-Nez regional operational surveillance and rescue center. Thirty occupants of a boat off the coast of Dunkirk were first rescued in the morning. The other occupants who wished to remain on board were “taken care of by British means once arriving in British waters”, according to the Prémar. Still off the coast of Dunkirk, another migrant boat was later reported to be in difficulty due to a “engine damage”. Its 51 occupants were recovered. Finally, 26 people were rescued aboard a boat in difficulty reported near Calais.

The Channel is “a particularly dangerous sector, particularly in the middle of winter for precarious and overloaded boats”recalls Prémar. At least 73 candidates for exile have died while attempting the sea crossing to reach England since the start of the year, according to the Pas-de-Calais prefecture. This makes 2024 the deadliest year since the appearance of the “small boat” phenomenon in the Channel in 2018.