Two Die Channel Crossing Attempt as 31,000 Migrants Reach UK in 2024

Two migrants died and about 60 others were rescued while attempting to cross the English Channel to Britain on a makeshift boat near Neufchâtel-Hardelot, French authorities confirmed. This tragic incident adds to the at least 25 fatalities from Channel crossings recorded this year, amid a record number of over 31,000 migrants arriving in Britain via small boats since January. The ongoing crossings continue to strain local emergency services in northern France, with many migrants facing dangerous conditions on overcrowded vessels. Under a recent Franco-British agreement, the UK can return migrants deemed ineligible for asylum to France and, in exchange, accepts an equal number of migrants from France whose asylum claims are likely to be granted. This deal aims to curb illegal crossings and disrupt people-smuggling networks, with the first migrants transferred under this scheme arriving recently in the UK. Despite these efforts, the perilous Channel crossings and migrant influx remain a significant challenge for both countries.