Tragedy struck off the coast of Wimereux as at least five migrants, including a child, lost their lives in an attempt to cross the English Channel to reach England. Reports from Bfm indicate that a significant rescue operation was carried out, resulting in the rescue of 48 individuals in total. This is not the first incident of its kind in Wimereux this year, as a similar tragedy occurred in mid-January, claiming the lives of five individuals as they tried to board a boat bound for England.
British Home Secretary James Cleverly is set to visit Italy this week to enhance joint efforts aimed at curbing illegal immigration from North Africa. Cleverly’s itinerary includes a visit to the Italian Coast Guard headquarters in Rome to gain insight into the operational challenges faced by the country due to migrant arrivals. His discussions with Italian Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi will focus on expanding collaborative efforts, including in North Africa, to reduce migrant flows and prevent risky journeys across the Mediterranean.
Building upon existing cooperation to facilitate the voluntary return of migrants from Tunisia to their home countries, the UK and Italy are exploring broader areas of collaboration to combat illegal migration. This includes addressing the root causes of migration through initiatives like the Rome Process and Italy’s G7 Presidency. Cleverly will also visit Lampedusa, an island that last year saw a surge in migrant arrivals by sea, surpassing its resident population. Through this visit, he aims to observe firsthand the efforts of Italian authorities working with organizations like Frontex to locate migrant boats and save lives at sea.
In a bid to address the escalating use of Libya as a transit point for migrants heading to Europe, the UK pledged up to one million pounds to support efforts in the country. Home Secretary Cleverly has been vocal about the need for global collaboration on migration issues and has committed to strengthening ties with Frontex. This includes deploying British personnel to the continent, increasing information sharing, joint training, and exploring the use of new technologies to enhance border security.