The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) published a statement on the loss of migrants trying to pass through the English Channel in small boats to reach British waters.
Mainly, in line with the concerns that the number of refugees and migrants crossing the English Channel is increasing, in August the a woman was found dead in Dutch waters. It is reported that she fell from a small boat trying to cross the Channel, in early August. According to ITF she was lost overboard off the Kent coast. In the meantime, additional 19 people were onboard the small boat, who were rescued and passed to the British Authorities.
Another case sees a migrant who attempted to swim the Channel towards England but is believed to have drowned at a wind farm off the Belgian coast.
In June, ITF International informed that a record number of migrants and asylum-seekers attempted to cross the English Channel in attempts to reach Britain.
In August alone, a record of 270 attempted to cross the Channel.
In the most recent incidents, the UK Border Force intercepted a dinghy with 11 people travelling towards the English coast and passed them to the authorities, and the French coastguard rescued 24 people after their dinghy got into difficulty off Dunkirk.
Source: Safety4Sea