The tragic loss of over a dozen migrants in the English Channel does not alter the essential truths of this migration pathway – nor does it diminish the determination of those who wish to traverse it.
On Wednesday morning, yet another vessel, carrying several dozen individuals, was observed making yet another attempt to reach the UK from northern France.
Reporters stationed on a beach in Wimereux, close to Boulogne, provided a live broadcast showing an inflatable boat heading out into the ocean.
And mere hours after a makeshift boat was damaged and sank off the French coastline, we encountered a group of around 50 migrants resting by the roadside after their attempt to reach Britain had been thwarted.
The majority were young men hailing from countries such as Iran and Iraq, although there were also small clusters from nations like South Sudan and Sri Lanka.
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12 dead after migrant boat sinks
A Kurdish mother caught our attention, wearing a vivid orange lifejacket tucked beneath her cardigan. She had three young daughters, including five-year-old twins, who displayed painful-looking blisters on their toes.
Their mother recounted that they had been walking extensive distances every night while the human traffickers sought a vessel for their transport.
No one we interviewed is considering retreat
I inquired of a Sri Lankan individual named Sayanthan if he was aware that 12 individuals had perished the day prior. He appeared dismayed and covered his face.
“No,” he replied softly. Would he continue striving to reach the UK? I asked. He responded with a nod. Nobody we spoke with is contemplating turning back.
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A man from South Sudan, who identified himself as Marco, disclosed that the rubber boat they intended to utilize had been damaged by the French authorities before they could make use of it.
“Why do they treat us this way?” he expressed. “I have been here for four months wearing the same attire. I simply wish to escape.”
“How many attempts have you made to reach the UK?” I asked.
Marco replied: “This is the first. This is the first attempt”. A look of disheartenment crossed his features.
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People smugglers demand fees ranging from €2,000 to €3,000. Many individuals cannot afford to attempt the journey multiple times.
Eventually, a local bus was dispatched to collect them. However, this bus route is atypical, as it stops at numerous unofficial campsites and clearings along the road extending to Calais and Dunkirk.
This embodies the stark reality of a migrant’s existence in northern France, a life marked by adversity and peril alongside a steadfast dream.
