UK migrant crisis continues as annual Channel crossings reach nearly 30,000

UK migrant crisis continues as annual Channel crossings reach nearly 30,000
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Paige Creaney

By Paige Creaney


Published: 21/09/2022

- 12:32

Updated: 14/02/2023

- 10:38

Amongst the migrants brought ashore on Wednesday morning were small children wrapped in blankets, as the total of Channel crossings reaches almost 30,000.

The number of migrants arriving into Dungeness, Kent could reach the 30,000 milestone by the end of day.

This morning, migrants wearing winter coats - some carrying youngsters - boarded buses in the Kent town having been picked up by RNLI boats.


A group of people thought to be migrants walk up the beach in Dungeness, Kent, after being rescued in the Channel by the RNLI following following a small boat incident. Picture date: Wednesday September 21, 2022.
Migrants walk up the beach in Dungeness, Kent.
Gareth Fuller

Some 93 people were recorded by the Ministry of Defence making the journey in four boats on Tuesday, taking the provisional total for 2022 so far to 29,799.

A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dungeness, Kent, by the RNLI following a small boat incident in the Channel. Picture date: Wednesday September 21, 2022.
Migrants are brought in to Dungeness, Kent, by the RNLI.
Gareth Fuller

This is higher than for the whole of last year (28,526).

Last week, nearly 40 people were rescued from the Channel when their boat sank off the Kent coast.

Government officials said last month it was remarkable there had not been any serious incidents, such as drownings, so far this year as the average number of people per boat rose to 44, compared with 28 in 2021.

It was also revealed by Downing Street that Prime Minister Liz Truss did not discuss migrant crossings of the Channel during her meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday, despite the growing crisis.

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