Responding to the news of more lives lost in an attempted Channel crossing today, Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, said:

“We are deeply saddened by yet another tragic and preventable loss of life in the Channel. Each death is a reminder that those making these perilous journeys are desperate people, fleeing conflict, persecution, and war, simply seeking safety and a future free from fear.

This year has already become the deadliest for Channel crossings, with more than 50 lives lost. We should not accept the frequency and scale of loss as inevitable.

The government must do everything possible to break this cycle of death by adopting a comprehensive strategy that includes disrupting smuggling networks, while also ensuring safe and legal pathways for those seeking asylum and working closely with European partners.”