A Morning Riddled with Criminal Activity
Picture a beach with no ice cream stands, no sandcastle building, and no laughter; instead, visualize a milieu dominated by criminal syndicates, off-road vehicles, and individuals in dire circumstances.
The beach in Calais epitomizes the extreme lengths individuals are willing to go to, the hazards they are willing to face, all for the chance to reach the shores of Britain. And it all begins at the break of dawn.
Arriving at the beach around 4 a.m., we witness a stunning orange sunrise in the making, with hardly a breeze in the air. However, the real action is unfolding down by the water.
A cluster of individuals boards a dinghy and sets off into the Channel. As we observe, the boat heads towards Britain, while the smugglers retreat towards their concealed spots in the dunes.
This is just the start. Soon after, another boat emerges from around a headland, slowly making its way.
As we keep vigil, a group comprising men, women, and children hastily makes their way down the shoreline.
We can see them as they rush towards the water, splashing through the shallows in a bid to board the vessel.
While we approach to capture the scene on film, three of the Kurdish traffickers begin yelling at us. Even though they may not converse in English, their choice of vocabulary leaves no room for doubt.
A New Approach in Boat Launches
The process of launching boats has expedited nowadays. Traffickers have realized that launching the boat from a different location and maneuvering it to the beach allows passengers to swiftly enter the water and climb aboard.
Moreover, under maritime regulations, there is limited intervention possible for the French authorities.
They are unable to enter the water to halt a non-distressed vessel, and it is not against the law for migrants to enter the water.
In essence, there exist loopholes that traffickers have shrewdly exploited, frustrating and impeding law enforcement efforts. And this scenario is about to play out.
For further reading: People smuggler ‘at peace’ with dying on the job
A Standoff Unfolds on the Beach
A sizable black dinghy comes into view, heading towards our location. This time, however, there is a response.
On the beach, a team of police officers is assembling, prepared to deflate the vessel upon its arrival.
Two squads of officers have arrived in their all-terrain vehicles, traversing the beaches; others have approached on foot. I count up to 25 officers at one juncture.
In the water, a police vessel—with its flashing blue lights—is encircling the dinghy, creating waves and endeavoring to divert its course, preventing it from nearing the beach waters where a cluster of individuals is gradually amassing, at a slight distance from both the water and the authorities.
The police boat continues its zigzag maneuver, but the dinghy, carrying five men, remains steadfast.
Migrants’ Struggle to Reach British Waters
As the sun rises, a group of migrants sets out on a dinghy, determined to reach British shores. The police stand by, documenting the scene on their phones, unable to intervene.
Meanwhile, another group of migrants is seen walking away from the beach, having missed the opportunity to board the boat or considering it too risky.
Those that couldn’t make it to the dinghy headed back
Struggle for Survival
Among the group heading back is Rebaz, an Iraqi man, accompanied by his wife and young children, including a five-month-old baby. He emphasizes the danger his family faces in their homeland, where they have been enduring nights in the cold.
Rebaz shares his aspiration of crossing the Channel to reach safety.
“We’ve attempted four times,” he mentions.
When asked if he would try again, Rebaz simply shrugs.
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Pursuit of a Better Life
Rebaz expresses his determination to seek safety for his children, even though he acknowledges the risks involved in another attempt to cross the Channel.
His daughter clings to him while he shares his story, highlighting his eagerness to start anew in Britain.
As long as individuals hold onto such hopes, smugglers will always find willing clients.
Tune in to the special programme on the migration crisis with Yalda Hakim on Sky News starting at 9pm tonight.
