Tragedy struck the English Channel on Wednesday as at least 27 migrants drowned in a doomed attempt to reach the UK.
It was the biggest single loss of life in the Channel since the International Organisation for Migration began tracking the data in 2014.
The dead included 17 men, seven women and three young people, French authorities said.
Fourteen migrants had drowned making the crossing this year, so Wednesday's known fatalities were nearly double this figure.
To put the strain on the route into perspective, 671 migrants were stopped from crossing the Dover Strait by French authorities on Wednesday alone, French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said.
UK Home Office figures suggest a record 25,000-plus migrants have attempted the crossing this year, although French authorities believe the figure to be nearer 31,000, with 7,800 rescued at sea.
There is a difference between attempted and successful crossings and the 669 migrants who successfully crossed the Channel on Sunday took the total who have arrived in small boats to 17,085 for the year to date, UK Home Office data shows. This is more than double the 8,417 who successfully made the crossing in the entirety of 2020.
Although figures are not readily available on the number of unaccompanied child migrants who have successfully crossed, it is believed that more than 100 are living in hotels due to a shortage of places in children's homes.
The monthly number of crossings in 2021 rose steadily until September, when it reached 4,653. The trend bucked in October when only 2,669 made the journey, but to date the figure for November has reached a hefty 6,665, Migration Watch UK said.
It is thus perhaps unsurprising the daily record for the number of illegal Channel crossings has been broken twice this month. On November 3, a total of 853 people made the crossing but this was eclipsed by the 1,885 people who crossed on November 12 – the first time the number had exceeded 1,000 for a day.
The illegal journeys across the Channel are made in small vessels, from boats to dinghies and kayaks, frequently packed with far more migrants than is safe. In such perilous conditions, the only surprise is that tragedies like Wednesday's are relatively infrequent.
"Allowing our borders to be uncontrolled and unsecured means those being exploited by people smugglers are put in danger and public safety in the UK is undermined," said Dr Benedict Greening, executive director of Migration Watch UK.
"This has all been completely avoidable. We have warned about this danger repeatedly for months."
While the Channel crossings have become a cause celebre, the attention they have drawn does not convey the full picture.
The number of small boats traversing the Dover Strait may be rising, but in 2020 overall asylum applications in the UK actually fell to 29,456.
Compared with a peer like France, which received 93,475 applications in the same year, this number is relatively small.
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About Krews
Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi
Based: Abu Dhabi
Founded: January 2019
Number of employees: 10
Sector: Technology/Social media
Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support
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Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The specs
Engine: 4-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: nine-speed
Power: 542bhp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: Dh848,000
On sale: now
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
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
Gothia Cup 2025
4,872 matches
1,942 teams
116 pitches
76 nations
26 UAE teams
15 Lebanese teams
2 Kuwaiti teams
Know your Camel lingo
The bairaq is a competition for the best herd of 50 camels, named for the banner its winner takes home
Namoos - a word of congratulations reserved for falconry competitions, camel races and camel pageants. It best translates as 'the pride of victory' - and for competitors, it is priceless
Asayel camels - sleek, short-haired hound-like racers
Majahim - chocolate-brown camels that can grow to weigh two tonnes. They were only valued for milk until camel pageantry took off in the 1990s
Millions Street - the thoroughfare where camels are led and where white 4x4s throng throughout the festival
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
