THE family of a 21-year-old woman who died in an overcrowded boat trying to cross the Channel say they will have to attempt the journey again as they have no other options.
Dina al-Shammari was travelling with her three younger siblings aged 13 to 19 and her parents when she died off the coast of Calais on July 28.
The family, who are Kuwaiti Bidoon, a stateless Arab minority, fled the Gulf state in 2018.
Her mother Amira al-Shammari said the family arrived in France on July 1 and had attempted the crossing five times before the night her eldest daughter died after being crushed.
She said the family believed there would be 60 people on the boat, but on the day of the crossing, they discovered the numbers were double that.
Amira al-Shammari described how the boat was at sea for about an hour before French coastguards reached them.
Dina was taken to Boulogne-sur-Mer hospital, where she was declared dead.
Her mother said Dina had wanted to study to become a dentist when she reached Britain, learn more English and, above all, “feel safe.”
Kuwait currently categorises Bidoon people as illegal residents, meaning they face difficulties getting civil documents, finding employment and accessing health, education and social services. Many live in relative poverty.
“We always feel scared there, and Dina, especially, she was afraid of the police,” Ms Shammari said. “We weren’t able to stand the situation there, so we decided to go to the UK.”
When the family left Kuwait, they originally planned to seek refuge in Britain as they understood the country accepts Kuwaiti Bidoon people.
They were refused asylum in Germany after arriving there in 2021, prompting them to try to get to Britain.
“If the German authority had given us the protections at the beginning, we wouldn’t have had to use a boat and cross the Channel to reach the UK,” Ms Shammari said.
“I want to tell people I’m struggling, I’m really struggling to find my kids a better future and good career.”
Asked if the family will still try to get to Britain, Ms Shammari said: “We have no options here, where should we go? Who’s going to give us the protection? We have to do that again.”
Two refugees died today as they tried to cross the Channel in a small boat, adding to the 17 people confirmed dead this year by the French coastguard.
