In a tragic event, at least five migrants, including a child, lost their lives in an attempt to cross the English Channel from Wimereux to England. This incident is not the first of its kind this year, as a similar tragedy occurred in mid-January, claiming the lives of five individuals. Reports from Bfm indicate that a significant rescue operation was carried out resulting in the rescue of 48 individuals in total.
In response to the escalating issue of illegal immigration from North Africa, British Home Secretary James Cleverly will visit Italy this week. During his visit to Rome, he will gain insight into the operational challenges faced by Italian authorities due to migrant arrivals and discuss ways to expand collaborative efforts with Italy to reduce migrant flows and prevent risky journeys across the Mediterranean. He will also visit Lampedusa, an island that saw a surge in migrant arrivals by sea last year. 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.
The UK and Italy are exploring broader areas of collaboration beyond existing cooperation to facilitate voluntary returns of migrants from Tunisia to their home countries. They are looking at addressing the root causes of migration through initiatives like Rome Process and Italy’s G7 Presidency. As part of these efforts, they have pledged up to one million pounds in support for Libya as a transit point for migrants heading towards Europe. Home Secretary Cleverly has been vocal about the need for global collaboration on migration issues and has committed to strengthening ties with Frontex by deploying British personnel on the continent, increasing information sharing and joint training while exploring new technologies that can enhance border security.
Overall, there is an urgent need for international cooperation and coordination on migration issues if we are going to effectively address this growing problem that affects many countries around the world.
