French security forces rescued almost 400 migrants seeking to take advantage of good weather and make the perilous crossing across the Channel to England in a weekend that also saw several fatalities, authorities in northern France said on Monday.
Crossings have been continuing in good weather conditions despite intense efforts by French and British authorities to stop the flow, including a deal involving sending some migrants who reach England back to France.
Rescue forces were deployed on Saturday and Sunday at some 24 departure points where migrants were seeking to board the boats, the regional maritime prefectures said.
On Saturday, approximately 220 people were rescued notably in Boulogne-sur-Mer, Dieppe, and Calais. Two Somali women, who had suffered cardiac arrest, died despite resuscitation attempts. Five people were slightly injured, and several suffered from hypothermia.
On Sunday, at least 176 migrants were rescued, including several injured. A teenager died after being found unconscious on Ecault beach outside Calais.
Meanwhile the body of a migrant was also recovered Saturday morning in Gravelines east of Calais although prosecutors believe his death could have occurred several days earlier.
This brought the number of deaths during these attempted illegal crossings of the Franco-British border to at least 27 since the beginning of the year, according to an AFP tally based on official data.
But some 32,000 people have managed to make the English coast so far this year, a record, while 895 people arrived on Saturday alone aboard just 12 small boats, according to the British government.
Under a recent Franco-British scheme, the UK can return them after arrival if they are deemed ineligible for asylum, including those who have passed through a “safe country” to reach UK shores.
In return, London will accept an equal number of migrants from France who are likely to have their asylum claims granted.
Earlier this month, four migrants were removed from the UK to France while a family of three were the first migrants to arrive in the UK under the deal after their right to stay was recognized. Critics say, however, that the numbers being affected by the deal is minute compared to the numbers still crossing.
