What's happened
On October 23, 2024, two people died after a migrant boat sank in the Channel near Calais, France. A rescue operation saved 46 others, highlighting the ongoing dangers of crossing this perilous waterway, which has seen a rise in fatalities this year.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to The Guardian, the French maritime prefecture confirmed the deaths and the rescue of 46 others after a migrant boat sank near Calais. The Independent noted that this incident adds to a grim tally of 51 dead or missing migrants in the Channel this year, emphasizing the treacherous conditions faced by those attempting the crossing. The situation has drawn attention to the need for improved safety measures and humanitarian responses to the ongoing migration crisis.
How we got here
The English Channel has become increasingly dangerous for migrants attempting to cross from France to the UK. In 2024 alone, at least 51 people have died or gone missing, marking it as one of the deadliest years for such crossings.
More on these topics
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The English Channel, also called simply the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates Southern England from northern France and links to the southern part of the North Sea by the Strait of Dover at its northeastern end.
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Wissant is a seaside commune in the Pas-de-Calais department in the Hauts-de-France region of France.
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Greece, officially the Hellenic Republic, known also as Hellas, is a country located in Southeast Europe. Its population is approximately 10.7 million as of 2018; Athens, the nation's capital, is its largest city, followed by Thessaloniki.
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France, officially the French Republic, is a country consisting of metropolitan France in Western Europe and several overseas regions and territories.
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Calais is a city and major ferry port in northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's prefecture is its third-largest city of Arras.