French politicians ask the United Kingdom to take action on the issue of migration after the 12 deaths of migrants trying to cross the English Channel.
One day after 12 immigrants died trying to cross the English Channel from the French coastan overloaded boat carrying dozens more people appeared to be attempting the same trip Wednesday.
The boats french patrol boats They watched over the boat packed with people packed side by side, some of them with their legs dangling over the side of the boat.
The mayor of the French coastal town of Wimereux, Jean-Luc Dubaële, said it is time for officials of the French and British governments act in the face of the migration crisis. “We, as elected officials, can’t take it anymore. We are tired of having to manage these situations and watching this misery spiral into slaughter.”
Dubaële proposes that countries break with the Le Touquet agreementa treaty signed in 2003 that established juxtaposed border controls. “Let’s legalize the process and let the immigrants pass to England,” he adds.
The mayor of Le Portel, Olivier Barbarin, also urged to the British Government to take action. “Or the UK closes its border completelyor do something to make the journey safer because we cannot continue to expose all these freedom-loving men and women who fled the war and whose only desire is to reach England to such risk.
Seven rescued from a sinking ship off the coast of Italy
Also on Wednesday, Italian coast guard rescues seven men of a ship sinking off the coast of Italy.
The survivors told the rescuers that their boat had left from Libya on Sept. 1, the coast guard said in a statement. “Survivors said there were 28 people on board, including three minors, 21 of whom, while sailing, fell into the sea due to adverse weather conditions,” they added.
The crossing from Libya to Italy It is one of the most used maritime migration routes in the world. On August 31, a German non-governmental organization rescued 289 people in four operations in international waters off Libya.
The Italian authorities They have detained the Sea-Watch ship for 20 days and fined the NGO up to 10,000 euros.
Italy accuses Sea-Watch of having carried out the rescue without permission from the Libyan authorities. The NGO rejects the accusation and affirms that International law does not require permission for rescue.
