Tragedy struck off the coast of Wimereux as at least five migrants, including a child, lost their lives last night while attempting to cross the English Channel in hopes of reaching England. BFM reported that a significant rescue operation was carried out, resulting in the rescue of 48 individuals. Unfortunately, this is not the first time such a tragedy has occurred in Wimereux this year, with a similar incident taking place in mid-January where five people perished while trying to board a boat bound for England.
Meanwhile, British Home Secretary James Cleverly is scheduled to visit Italy this week to enhance collaborative efforts in curbing illegal immigration from North Africa. Cleverly will visit the headquarters of the Italian Coast Guard in Rome to better understand the operational challenges faced by the country due to migrant arrivals. During his visit, he will meet with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi to discuss ways in which both countries can expand their joint efforts, particularly in North Africa, to prevent dangerous migration journeys across the Mediterranean.
In addition to their existing collaborative efforts to facilitate the voluntary return of migrants from Tunisia to their home countries, the UK and Italy are exploring broader areas of cooperation to address the root causes of illegal migration. This includes initiatives such as the Rome Process and Italy’s G7 Presidency. Cleverly’s visit to Lampedusa will provide him with firsthand insight into how Italian authorities, along with agencies like Frontex and international humanitarian groups, work together to intercept migrant boats and save lives at sea.
Home Secretary Cleverly’s visit to Libya last month saw a pledge to allocate up to one million pounds to assist in tackling the increasing number of people using the country as a pathway