“This tragedy is undoubtedly an extremely regrettable event, and the prime minister’s concerns are mainly directed towards the families and friends of those who have lost their lives,” Sunak’s spokesman told reporters. He added that the shipwreck serves as a stark reminder of the inherent danger of these migration crossings and highlights the critical importance of dismantling the criminal networks involved. In this context, he stated that it is appropriate for the government to move quickly to curb such arrivals.
London is currently collaborating with Paris to find comprehensive strategies to prevent crossings into the UK on this route, which is one of the busiest globally.
The shipwreck on Saturday, which killed six Afghan refugees, occurred while the boat was carrying more than 60 migrants from northern France to the United Kingdom.
The Conservative government has prioritized the fight against these migratory crossings and has noted a considerable increase in crossings over the last five years. In 2022 alone, around 45,000 people crossed the English Channel, an area that has been the scene of multiple shipwrecks in recent years. A prominent case was that of November 2021, when at least 27 people lost their lives.
The need to prevent these dangerous crossings and address irregular migration has become a fundamental issue for the Conservative government, driving the search for effective solutions to address the complexity of this situation and guarantee the safety and well-being of the people involved in these journeys.