French coastguard rescues more than 100 migrants after boat breaks down
More than 100 immigrants trying to cross the English Channel on a single boat were rescued by the French coast guard after the boat broke down.
The “taxi boat” was seen heading east along the coast towards Wimereux to pick up people in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The boat later broke down during an attempt to cross, and the 106 migrants on board had to be transported to a rescue ship before being taken to Calais.
According to the French coast guard, several people had difficulty trying to climb onto the boat, including a woman who lost consciousness and had to be evacuated by helicopter.
A French Coast Guard spokesman said: “This maritime area is one of the busiest in the world and weather conditions are often harsh (strong winds and currents, numerous beaches and water temperatures that reduce life expectancy to just a few minutes in winter).
“So even if the sea seems calm, this is a particularly dangerous area.”
A total of 119 people were taken to safety in three separate rescue operations off France’s northern coastline on Saturday, according to regional maritime authorities.
The incidents reveal that the risks faced by migrants trying to cross with small boats continue.
The latest rescue comes after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood signed a three-year deal with France on Thursday to pay £662 million to support beach patrols as part of efforts to reduce the number of arrivals.
The Home Office said the regulation would see police officers “target and detain” migrants on the French coast in a bid to divert hundreds of small boat migrants from beaches each year to prevent them entering the water.
This means the UK will hand over £501 million to cover five police units and enforcement activities on the French coast; The extra £160 million will only be paid if new tactics to block Channel crossings are successful.
If the efforts fail, additional funding will stop after a year, the Interior Ministry said.
But ministers stopped short of setting specific targets to measure the success of the agreement.
More than 6,000 migrants have reached the UK after making the journey so far this year, according to government figures; This number decreased by 36 percent compared to this period last year.
More than 70,000 people have turned out since Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister.
On Saturday, a group of more than a dozen people, including women and children, were photographed gathering at the Channel and then being brought to the Border Guard compound in Dover.
