MSF UK: Flashquote after at least four people die in a shipwreck off the coast of northern France trying to seek safety in the UK
At least four people—two men and two woman—died in a shipwreck off the coast of northern France trying to seek safety in the UK. According to the French prefecture, this is the initial death toll. This was a preventable tragedy.
Liz Harding, MSF UK’s Humanitarian Representative, emphasises:
“This is not an isolated incident, but a deadly pattern of people losing their lives attempting to reach safety in the UK. On April 1 this year, an attempted crossing had already resulted in the deaths of two people near Graveline Beach and at least 130 people have lost their lives making the treacherous journey since 2018.
“Our medical teams stationed along the northern coast assist people on the move on a daily basis who have attempted or are planning to attempt to cross the English Channel to reach the United Kingdom.
"How many more tragedies will it take before safe, accessible routes to the UK are opened and hostile migration policies are abandoned?”
Since 2003 the UK has sent hundreds of millions of pounds to France to prevent asylum seekers from crossing the English Channel, using increasingly violent and harmful tactics. But attempts to cross have never stopped and people continue to take more and more risks trying to find sanctuary.
MSF calls on the UK government to urgently introduce safe and accessible routes for people to seek safety in the UK.
Kate Lee