France is organizing a meeting on Sunday in Calais with the European Commission and ministers from the Netherlands, Germany, Great Britain, and Belgium to discuss the increasing flow of migrants crossing the Channel.
On Wednesday, 27 migrants drowned after their rubber boat presumably collided with a large cargo ship. They had likely departed from Dunkirk, France, on their inflatable boat intending to cross the Channel to the United Kingdom. The attempt ended tragically.
The French coast guard launched a rescue operation after a fisherman reported seeing floating bodies in the Channel. As far as is known, two people were pulled alive from the water; they are currently in intensive care and being treated for hypothermia.
Among the victims were a pregnant woman and three minors, whose exact ages are still unknown. The group consisted of seventeen men, seven women, and three minors. According to the French Ministry of the Interior, the victims included Iraqis and Somalis.
On Thursday, French authorities arrested a fifth suspect in connection with the failed human smuggling. This suspect is said to have bought inflatable boats in Germany. The first four suspects were arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of human smuggling, murder, and participation in organized crime.
Both the United Kingdom and France point fingers at each other. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson reiterated the proposal to organize joint patrols and criticized that he had “difficulty convincing certain partners,” particularly France.
France said on Thursday morning that neighboring countries do too little to prevent human smuggling. For example, the British must tighten rules around illegal work to combat illegal migration.
Verlinden called it a “tragedy” and wants to prevent its recurrence at all costs. “We will look at how to do everything possible to ensure such situations do not happen again. We must disrupt human smugglers as much as possible.”