At least 12 migrants have died after an overcrowded boat carrying them across the English Channel capsized, the French authorities said on Tuesday, as a massive rescue operation was under way.
The vessel was reportedly carrying about 70 migrants and the maritime prefecture for the area said the boat got into difficulty off Gris-Nez point on Tuesday morning. Most of those in the boat that capsized were from Africa, particularly from Eritrea.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told of as many as 75 people on the boats leaving the shores of northern France and said the vessel went down "very, very quickly".
"The people who go now, really it's people from the Horn of Africa who want to go to the UK," Mr Darmanin said. "We really do need to work together to stop these things happening."
He said most of the people on the boat were believed to have been from Eritrea, and most of the victims were women.
Prosecutor Guirec Le Bras said six minors and 10 women were among the dead, BBC News reported.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper called the incident “horrifying and deeply tragic” as she said efforts to dismantle “dangerous and criminal smuggler gangs” and to boost border security “must proceed apace”.
Olivier Barbarin, mayor of Le Portel near the fishing port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, where a first-aid post was set up to treat victims, said: "Unfortunately, the bottom of the boat ripped open."
Etienne Baggio, a spokesman for the French maritime prefecture that oversees that stretch of sea, said rescuers had recovered 61 people from the waters with a sea temperature of about 20°C.
At least 30 people have died or gone missing while trying to cross to the UK this year, according to the UN's International Organisation for Migration.
At least 2,109 migrants have tried to cross the English Channel on small boats in the past seven days, according to UK Home Office data updated on Tuesday. The data includes people found in the Channel or on arrival.
Enver Solomon, chief executive of non-government organisation the Refugee Council, said the group was “heartbroken by the tragic deaths in the latest incident in the Channel”.
Mr Solomon said that as well as taking action against the criminal gangs, the UK government must develop a plan to improve and expand safe routes for those seeking asylum.
“Our thoughts and sympathies are with the victims and their loved ones,” he said. “The number of deaths in the Channel this year has been shockingly high. It is a devastating trend that shows the urgent need for a comprehensive and multipronged approach to reduce dangerous Channel crossings.”
“Enforcement alone is not the solution. Heightened security and policing measures on the French coast have led to increasingly perilous crossings, launching from more dangerous locations and in flimsy, overcrowded vessels.
“People risk their lives out of desperation, fleeing violence and persecution in countries like Afghanistan, Syria and Sudan in search of safety. We must create effective and humane pathways for those seeking refuge, to reduce the need for dangerous crossings and prevent further tragedies.”
Separately, a Royal National Lifeboat Institution vessel with migrants on board docked in Dover, on the south coast of England, on Tuesday, after an incident in the Channel. It was not confirmed whether they were rescued from the same incident off the French coast.
A number of asylum seekers have died in recent weeks after vessels capsized soon after setting out from northern France.
Tony Smith, former head of the UK’s Border Force and now a border security consultant, recently told The National that migrants will continue to die in greater numbers in overcrowded boats in the English Channel as people smugglers make up for a lack of vessels.
He said success in reducing the supply of boats has resulted in the traffickers cramming ever more numbers of people on board flimsy vessels.
Mr Smith said that gangs of “Albanians and Kurds are all fighting one and other for the spaces and when one does get afloat they’re overloading them, which is why you’re seeing 70 or 80 on board and that’s very, very dangerous”.
"I think there’s going to be more deaths and I think it’s only going to get worse before it gets better,” he said.
Tackling illegal immigration has been a priority for the British and French governments. Thousands of migrants have arrived in Britain this year in small boats.
Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer pledged to work more closely to dismantle migrant smuggling networks.
The Channel is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes and currents are strong, making the crossing on small boats dangerous.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
The five pillars of Islam
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Favourite book: ‘The Art of Learning’ by Josh Waitzkin
Favourite film: Marvel movies
Favourite parkour spot in Dubai: Residence towers in Jumeirah Beach Residence
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
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NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Test
Director: S Sashikanth
Cast: Nayanthara, Siddharth, Meera Jasmine, R Madhavan
Star rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 2.7-litre 4-cylinder Turbomax
Power: 310hp
Torque: 583Nm
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Price: From Dh192,500
On sale: Now
The Bio
Amal likes watching Japanese animation movies and Manga - her favourite is The Ancient Magus Bride
She is the eldest of 11 children, and has four brothers and six sisters.
Her dream is to meet with all of her friends online from around the world who supported her work throughout the years
Her favourite meal is pizza and stuffed vine leaves
She ams to improve her English and learn Japanese, which many animated programmes originate in
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Six things you need to know about UAE Women’s Special Olympics football team
Several girls started playing football at age four
They describe sport as their passion
The girls don’t dwell on their condition
They just say they may need to work a little harder than others
When not in training, they play football with their brothers and sisters
The girls want to inspire others to join the UAE Special Olympics teams
'The Ice Road'
Director: Jonathan Hensleigh
Stars: Liam Neeson, Amber Midthunder, Laurence Fishburne
2/5
COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
The biog
Age: 59
From: Giza Governorate, Egypt
Family: A daughter, two sons and wife
Favourite tree: Ghaf
Runner up favourite tree: Frankincense
Favourite place on Sir Bani Yas Island: “I love all of Sir Bani Yas. Every spot of Sir Bani Yas, I love it.”
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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New Zealand 21 British & Irish Lions 24
New Zealand
Penalties: Barrett (7)
British & Irish Lions
Tries: Faletau, Murray
Penalties: Farrell (4)
Conversions: Farrell
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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BRIEF SCORES
England 228-7, 50 overs
N Sciver 51; J Goswami 3-23
India 219, 48.4 overs
P Raut 86, H Kaur 51; A Shrubsole 6-46
England won by nine runs
Avengers: Endgame
Directors: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo
Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Josh Brolin
4/5 stars
