Sudanese Refugee Dies While Trying To Cross The English Channel

A Sudanese man, who has now been identified as Abdulfatah Hamdallah, was tragically found dead on the Sangatte beach in Calais earlier this week. It is understood that his death is not linked to any activity by immigration networks or people smugglers, and that his crossing attempt was self-coordinated with a friend. The pair were attempting to make the dangerous crossing in a simple rubber dinghy, using shovels as oars. Hamdallah reportedly left his hometown of West Kordofan in Sudan in 2015, which is located near the border with the Darfur region: a region that has seen significant unrest and economic instability since conflicts in 2003 between non-Arab rebel groups and government armed Arab militias. 

Hamdallah’s death comes amidst a significant increase in individuals trying to cross the Channel in small boats since March this year, as reported by the BBC. It seems likely that this increase is, at least in part, linked to the reduction in ferry and train services running as a result of the COVID-19 crisis. To date, 4,900 people have already reached UK shores in small boats in 2020, compared to an estimated 1,800 in all of 2019. The UK government’s response to the increased crossings has focussed on making this route of crossing, in the words of newly-appointed ex-Royal Marine Clandestine Channel Threat Commander Dan O’Mahoney, “completely unviable.” He described having “positive discussions” in France regarding “enhancing operations with increased surveillance, aerial support, further intelligence sharing and patrols in northern France.”

This response has, however, been largely condemned; criticism has come both from French politicians as well as from charitable organisations that support asylum seekers. The Calais MP Pierre-Henri Dumont said that “whatever the British government will implement in the Channel, people will try to cross. The more difficult it will be to cross, the more dangerous it will be.” This sentiment has been echoed by many, including Beth Gardiner-Smith, the chief executive of Safe Passage, a charity which seeks to support unaccompanied child refugees. In a statement to The Guardian, she said: “the French and UK governments have been quick to blame people smugglers but fail to recognise that the best way to destroy their business model is to provide safe and legal routes for refugees and a clear pathway to asylum.” The UN Refugee Agency also released a statement on the 13th of August that they are “troubled” by proposals from the UK government to intercept and return boats that are attempting to cross the Channel. 

The current approach implemented by the UK government does not seem to have the correct intentions; prioritising the prevention of Channel crossings by asylum seekers above providing refuge for those in need of it, as well as ensuring their safe passage. It is clear that even the most stringent measures will not be able to deter asylum seekers from attempting this already treacherous crossing, and that these measures are likely to result in the further tragic loss of life. Brexit also looms over us; last week, on the 20th of August, the EU rejected a request for a migration pact by which the UK government would be able to send asylum seekers back to other European countries following the end of the transition period on the 31st of December. Tensions with our European neighbours are rising on this issue, especially given that the UK sees far fewer asylum requests compared to countries like France and Germany. It is high time that the UK government reflects on its stance; according to The Guardian, the message from Brussels in response to this latest migration pact request is simply that it’s “not good enough.”

Clara Baltay

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