CAMPAIGNERS urged the government today to “end the deaths now” by “finding humanity” and introducing safe routes for migrants after a baby died in the English Channel.
The child was found unconscious after a boat got into difficulty off the French coast of Wissant in the Pas-de-Calais region on Thursday evening and was later declared dead.
The French maritime prefecture for the English Channel and the North Sea said another 65 migrants were rescued.
Searches for survivors were continuing as the Star went to print.
The baby’s death is the 45th to be reported by the French coastguards this year.
A total of 27,557 people have arrived in Britain in small boats so far this year after crossing the Channel – 6 per cent higher than the equivalent point last year.
People continued crossing the Channel as arrivals were brought into Dover today.
Care4Calais head of operations Imogen Hardman said that “it hits harder when children are the victims of the government’s hostile environment.”
She said: “We’ve already witnessed a record number of deaths on our border in 2024 and the burning question the UK’s new government has to answer is how many more lives need to be lost before you take action?
“I work with the communities here in Calais every day, and I know that every death on our border could have been prevented with one simple measure — providing safe routes for refugees to claim asylum.
“Instead, our political leaders continue to talk about border security and the deaths continue with increasing regularity.”
Ms Hardman said losses of life were leaving her “wretched with a palpable sense of anger at a political class willing to play with the lives of men, women and children who are seeking nothing more than sanctuary from some of the world’s biggest horrors.”
“I plead, [Prime Minister] Keir Starmer and [Home Secretary] Yvette Cooper, please end the deaths now,” she said.
“Find your humanity and introduce the safe routes that will save the lives.”
Migrant Voice director Nazek Ramadan said: “After years of talk about ‘harsher border policies’ all we have seen are more people losing their lives in the Channel as they try and seek safety.
“This time we have seen a young baby die, because there was no other option for their family to reach the UK to seek asylum — 2024 is now the most deadly year for Channel crossings. This is avoidable.
“We know and politicians know that a focus on enforcement just forces people into more dangerous journeys.
“It is time that the UK government, along with others, change course and prioritise ensuring people have safer and simpler routes to seek asylum in the countries they feel safest in.”
Refugee Council executive director Enver Solomon said crossings by people fleeing war, conflict and persecution take are “getting ever deadlier,” with the number of deaths in 2024 being greater than the previous three years combined.
He said: “This procession of death and tragedy shows we need to rethink our approach. Lives will continue to be lost if we carry on as it is.
“The government should adopt a more multi-pronged strategy to tackle these life-threatening journeys.
“Seeking to disrupt the smuggling gangs alone will never be enough: government must also provide safe and legal routes for refugees, as well as meaningful collaboration with European partners.”
