French politicians urge the UK government to take action against the migrant deaths.
Just a day after 12 migrants died attempting to cross the English Channel from the French coast, an overcrowded boat carrying dozens more seemed to be making a similar attempt on Wednesday.
French patrol boats monitored the dinghy packed with people crammed side-by-side, some with their legs hung over the side of the boat.
The mayor of the French coastal town Wimereux, Jean-Luc Dubaële, said it is time French and British government officials acted on the migrant crisis. “We, as elected officials, can’t take it anymore. We are fed up with having to manage these situations and watch this misery head toward slaughter.”
Dubaële proposed that countries should break away from the Le Touquet agreement, a treaty signed in 2003 that established juxtaposed border controls. “Let’s legalise the process and let the migrants pass through to England,” he added.
The mayor of Le Portel, Olivier Barbarin, also urged the UK government to take action. “Either the UK completely closes its border, or they do something to make the crossing safer because we can`t keep exposing to such risk all these freedom-loving men and women who fled war and whose one desire is to reach England.”
Seven rescued from sinking boat off coast of Italy
Also on Wednesday, the Italian coast guard rescued seven men from a sinking boat off the Italian coast.
The survivors told the rescuers their boat had left Libya on 1 September, the coast guard statement said.
“Survivors said 28 people were on board, including three minors, 21 of whom fell into the sea due to adverse weather conditions,” it added.
The crossing from Libya to Italy is one of the most-used sea migration routes in the world.
On 31 August, a German non-governmental organisation rescued 289 people in four operations in international waters off the coast of Libya.
Italian authorities have detained the ship Sea-Watch for 20 days and fined the NGO up to €10,000.
Italy accuses Sea-Watch of conducting rescues without permission from Libyan authorities. The NGO disputes the allegation, saying that permission is not required under international law.
Additional sources • EBU
