"Absolute tragedy" - Darmanin after at least 27 migrants die as boat capsizes in English Channel

У вашего броузера проблема в совместимости с HTML5

Follow us on Telegram:
https://t.me/s/ruptlynews

French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin addressed hospital workers and officials following the sinking of an inflatable dinghy holding 34 refugees in Calais, on Wednesday night.

Darmanin said the incident was an “absolute tragedy” saying 31 people were ‘dead or inanimate’. The death toll was later revised down to 27.

The interior minister went on to say “the responsibility is that of the criminals that are the smugglers” before speaking of France using “additional means” to combat the problem.

The capsizing of the inflatable dinghy, which occurred this Wednesday near the coastal cities of Dunkirk and Calais has been termed the worst ever disaster involving migrants in the English Channel. Although the journey is relatively short the currents in the water are strong, making it an unsafe voyage for many refugees who attempt to cross often in inadequate boats.

Following the incident the governments of France and the United Kingdom have set up communication in order to prevent illegal crossing between the two countries.

—-

SOT, Gerald Darmanin, French Interior Minister (French): “I have come to Calais, Madame the Mayor, thanking you for your welcome, praising the rescuers, the police, the sailors, all who are still contributing at the Calais Hospital, the agents of the prefecture who are contributing to deal with, unfortunately this shameful drama that has occurred today, where to our knowledge 33 people capsized off Dunkirk and Calais. There are today 31 people dead or inanimate and two survivors who are actually being treated and whose lives are unfortunately also in danger. Among those 33 dead, there are, as far as we know, five women and a little girl. Today, we do not have more information on the identity of these persons.”​

SOT, Gerald Darmanin, French Interior Minister (French): “I also want to say that the first responsible of this horrible situation are the smugglers - as in criminals, who for a few thousand euros organise human trafficking from Iraq, Afghanistan, Africa, Asia, and who then use these people, make them come from Belgium, the Netherlands, and France mostly, to cross the Channel and go to Great Britain. Those smugglers are the ones we must apprehend, and 1,500 have been arrested since January 1, and four were arrested today, who we suspect could be linked to this crossing.”

SOT, Gerald Darmanin, French Interior Minister (French): “I also want to say that the means that have been put in place today to try to save lives were extremely important. Three boats, including warships, two helicopters, a French helicopter, a British helicopter and obviously, dozens of people mobilized who risked their lives to try to save these lives.”

SOT, Gerald Darmanin, French Interior Minister (French): “What is certain is that according to reports from the Navy and rescue volunteers, the boat on which they seemed to have been about 30 - there are reports of still one person missing but we can’t confirm that information - was an extremely fragile boat.”

SOT, Gerald Darmanin, French Interior Minister (French): “Just today, 780 police and gendarmes making over 600 arrests in a single day - and it’s winter - can only happen if Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Great Britain all work together. We do it, but maybe not enough yet. And we must absolutely fight against these criminals like we fight against terrorists.”

SOT, Gerald Darmanin, French Interior Minister (French): “There is always a sense of responsibility, of course, but the first responsibility is that of the criminals that are the smugglers. I want to say, after the emotion that has gripped us all, the great anger, the great anger that we can have towards these criminals and towards perhaps two countries that do not play the game completely in the interception of these criminals that we must treat as criminals who are like terrorists, like big drug traffickers, major criminals who today are gambling with the live of a pregnant woman who was found drowned off the coast of Calais, Dunkirk, and of little girls, sometimes babies. And obviously, this is an absolute tragedy that fills us with anger and that must have consequences, police response, gendarmes, justice, but also additional means to fight it.”

#Darmanin #EnglishChannel #migrants

Video ID: 20211125-034

Video on Demand: https://ruptly.tv/videos/20211125-034
Contact: [email protected]

Twitter: http://twitter.com/Ruptly
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Ruptly