Channel migrants: Vigils mark second anniversary of mass drowning

One of the vigils took place in Folkestone

Vigils have been held to mark the second anniversary of a mass migrant drowning in the English Channel.

On 24 November 2021, a boat carrying 33 people sank, leaving only two survivors.

Vigils were held on beaches in Folkestone, Kent, Hastings, East Sussex and in Dunkirk and Paris in France.

The government said it was prepared to do "whatever it takes" to stop people-smugglers bringing people across the Channel.

Relatives of the victims have released an open letter, which said: "We demand that the division and fear of anti-migrant rhetoric used by some political leaders is replaced with the empathy and respect that many people and communities across Britain show to refugees every day."

Sangar, an Iraqi Kurd who made the crossing a month after the sinking, lost several friends, including one from childhood.

"I lost seven wonderful friends in that tragedy" he said. "It can never be forgotten in all my life."

Sangar lost seven friends in the drowning

This week a BBC South East investigation discovered migrants said they were not deterred from making the dangerous crossing.

Charities have called for safe routes to be created for people who want to claim asylum in the UK.

Bridget Chapman, a refugee and migrants rights campaigner, said: "We've got to stop people feeling like they've got no other option than to put themselves into the hands of people-smugglers.

"We have to give them safe and legal routes and that would destroy the people-smugglers' business overnight."

Campaigner Bridget Chapman says creating legal routes to the UK would stop refugees making the dangerous crossing

• French identify 26 victims of Channel drowning

• 'Channel deaths were a tragedy waiting to happen'

• What are the legal routes to the UK?

A government spokesperson said: "Our thoughts remain with the families of all those who lost their lives in the Channel two years ago.

"We will do whatever it takes to end these perilous and fatal journeys, encouraging people to seek safe and legal passage.

"Our priority is to stop the boats - and thanks to the work of the Small Boats Operational Command, alongside our French partners, small boat crossings are down by a third from the same point last year."

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