China News Service, September 11, according to Agence France-Presse, on the 11th local time, the French maritime department stated that they rescued 126 immigrants who tried to cross the English Channel to the UK in the northern waters of the country.
On September 22, 2020, near Dunkirk in northern France, immigrants carried a boat across Gravelins Beach, preparing to cross the English Channel to the United Kingdom.
Photo by Sameer Al-DOUMY
According to reports, the French maritime department said that the migrants came from three ships. The first ship carried 43 people, including six women and two babies. The ship was rescued by a patrol boat after experiencing problems.
According to the report, 40 migrants were rescued in another operation, and another 43 people were rescued from the waters of the English Channel after issuing a distress signal.
The report cited data from British media organizations that since 2021, at least 14,100 people have crossed the English Channel in small boats to the UK, which is about 6,000 more than in 2020.
Especially recently, as human traffickers take advantage of the favorable weather in late summer, related activities have become more frequent.
According to reports, the French policy is not to intercept or repatriate migrant ships, but to escort them to British waters, unless these migrant ships seek help.
This attitude of the French side has also aroused dissatisfaction from some media and government figures who support Brexit in the UK. They accused France of evading responsibility for this move.