Down 30% between 2022 and 2023, Channel crossings by migrants are on the rise again at the start of 2024, despite winter conditions and water at 9°C. This is the observation made by the associations working with exiles in the north of France. Nine deaths due to shipwrecks have been recorded since the start of the year. But neither these tragedies, nor the strong police presence, nor even repeated failures, deter candidates from leaving for the United Kingdom.
Like every Monday, it’s food distribution day by volunteers from the Salam association. A long queue formed on this muddy wasteland. Here, several dozen migrants are killing time while waiting to seize their chance: that of crossing the Channel to reach the United Kingdom.
Abdoul is Afghan. He is 19 years old. And he is already on his third attempt: “ We have tried to cross last night in a boat, but the police arrived and breached the boat. And so, we returned here to this camp. The previous time, the boat never came. And then, yet another time, we were at sea for four hours, and the engine failed. It was terrible, I can’t even explain. There was no one to help us. We waited for the police to come and rescue us. We called them three, four, five times : “Help us ! Help us !“, because the boat’s engine no longer worked. They came, but so late, after an hour and a half. »
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His request for asylum in France was rejected twice. The United Kingdom is therefore his next destination: especially since he speaks English and his uncle lives there. “ We will try again and again. God willing, we will get there. We will go to the United Kingdom », insists the young man.
After a failure, migrants left to their own devices
When this fails, migrants find themselves left to their own devices, at night, often wet, wandering in the cold. This is where Thomas, a volunteer at Utopia 56, comes in. At the wheel of his car, he transports children’s clothes, women’s clothes… ” We have enough to clothe from head to toe, in general, around 80 to 90 people “, he assures.
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After an hour of marauding, the volunteer spots 30 migrants. It’s 4 a.m. The group comes back from the beach along a national road. A man limps forward, complaining of pain in his foot. The volunteer can’t get him in his car and take him to the hospital, so an ambulance is called. Like others, his jogging pants are soaked. The group, made up of families, sometimes with very young children, has probably just attempted a crossing prevented by the police.
Alexis, the other volunteer, is struggling to find them emergency accommodation. But the nearest hotel is closed. It’s 2 degrees. Dry and warm clothes are distributed to them. “ We’re always trying to do something. Even if 115 doesn’t answer, even if the hotel is closed, we still do something. Minimum. To show them that they are not alone. »
On the beach, an abandoned backpack, the witness of a hasty departure. That night, 320 migrants managed to reach the United Kingdom.