The British Coast Guard has been sued by an international humanitarian group because it failed to rescue a vessel that was damaged in the English Channel. This lawsuit resulted in 27 deaths.
The lawsuit filed in Paris on Friday by Utopia 56 also accuses two French authorities: the maritime prefect of the Channel and North Sea and the Regional Operational Centre for Surveillance and Rescue of Gris-Nez in the Pas-de-Calais.
French lawyers for non-profits claim that the boat was sinking and the refugees tried to reach British or French rescue services. They passed the blame.
Two of 29 people aboard the vessel November 24 died in the worst loss of life due to a single migrant crossing the Channel. Only seven-years old was the youngest victim.
A dangerous and fragile dinghy which sank at Calais killing 27 people on November 24
Smugglers threatened to shoot migrants, including bride-to-be Mariam Nouri Dargalayi (pictured with fiance), unless they boarded the doomed dinghy that went down in Channel
Twana Mohammed (pictured), 18 years old, was an Iraqi Kurd student. It is thought that she died as a result of the tragedy
Deniz Ahmed Mohammed’s family (left), said that he left them an ultimatum voicemail in which he pleaded for their prayers. Riaz Mohammed (12) is also believed to be among the dead.
These deaths caused a diplomatic dispute between France and Britain amid record-breaking numbers of migrants crossings this year – which tripled.
Emmanuel Daoud, the lawyer representing Utopia 56, told The Guardian: ‘The victims and their families are owed truth and transparency.
“We are certain that when their boat began to sink, exiles and refugees tried to reach British and French rescue agencies, but they passed on the blame.
‘They did not come to the aid of people who were in distress, and from that moment we consider that the question of responsibility – in the criminal sense of the term – has arisen.’
Kurdish media heard from the only survivors of the last month’s tragedy that two migrants made distress calls to Kurdish media. They said that they ignored their distress call as the canoe collapsed and the engine burst.
They say the British stated that the boat was located in French waters while the French claimed the opposite.
Victim family members were in phone contact with the victim’s relatives during the crossing attempt and confirmed these accounts.
Monday’s comment by the Channel and North Sea maritime prefect was not immediate.
Families of Iraqi Kurdistan victims have launched proceedings in London.
An earlier month saw 26 victims identified. Seventeen girls and seven boys were among them. One migrant is still unknown.
Fourteen-year old girls were among the 16 Iraqi Kurds that investigators could confirm their identity.
A statement stated that the victims include an Iranian Kurd, three Ethiopians (including two women), and four Afghan men. Ages of the victims ranged from 19 to 46.
Shakar Ali, 25 (left), and Harem Pierot, 23 (right), were neighbors in Iraq who set out together to start a new life in Britain. They are said to have been aboard the dinghy.
Hadya Rzgar 22 years old, Mubin 16, Hasta 7 year old, and their mother KazhalRzgar (right) are believed to have been among the 27 migrants killed in last week’s Channel tragedy.
It set sail at 10:15 on November 23, and continued sailing for three hours until it was deflated off Calais.
More than 12 hours after the incident, a French fishing boatman found the corpses of the victims just miles away from French coast waters.
Tensions between London, Paris and other countries have escalated over the incident. They had been simmering for months about a variety of issues including Channel crossings and post Brexit fishing rights.
Britain has accused France of failing to stop migrants illegally crossing, despite promising to pay Paris £54 million in installments to increase beach patrols along its northern coastline.
The UK Border Force has detained 1,327 migrants so far in this month. Compare this to 211 detained in December 2020.
The UK Border Force has detained 1,327 migrants so far in this month. Comparable to the 211 migrants detained by UK Border Force in December 2020, this figure is quite significant. 27938 illegal migrants total were arrested in 2021. This year, crossings tripled compared with 2020.
20,938 illegal migrants total were arrested in 2021. This year, crossings tripled compared with 2020.
A spokesperson for HM Coastguard explained that France’s legal action had been launched.
Her Majesty’s Coastguard was notified of more than 90 calls from the English Channel including emergency calls at 999.
“Every single call was responded to, evaluated, and acted on, with the exception of deployments of search and rescue personnel where necessary. Every call was answered, assessed and acted upon.