The International Organization for Migration estimates that at least 78 migrants died crossing the Channel in 2024 alone, with many more missing.

This is a significant increase year on year and the Refugee Council has warned that tighter government enforcement efforts will put more people at risk than ever before in the months to come.

With more people putting their lives at risk than ever before, including children, it is crucial the government ceases its tough but hollow rhetoric and gets a firm grip of this issue by listening to the many dedicated campaign organisations and humanitarians on the ground in both Dover and Calais. The reality is that the only way to prevent deaths in the English Channel is to ensure there are safe and legal routes to reach British shores. This approach ensures safety for refugees, the opportunity to provide appropriate healthcare and adequately document arrivals.

As well as this, safe and legal routes will properly prevent the exploitation of refugees by smuggling gangs and human traffickers. To achieve this, the UK and French governments, as well as the wider European Union, must work together in a joined up approach that ceases to demonise refugees for political or economic issues.

At 2PM on Saturday 11 January, a large demonstration to call for safe and legal routes to end deaths at the borders will take place at the Gaston Berthe Seawall in Calais. This mass mobilisation has been called by numerous groups, including La France Insoumise.

Peace & Justice Project, as well as our founder Jeremy Corbyn MP, have added their names as signatories to the Calais Appeal letter in support of this demonstration and an end to deaths at the border.

The letter states that "As associations, trade unions, elected representatives, members of parliament, citizens in solidarity and those concerned, we reject the continuation of this deadly policy and call for a mobilisation on 11 January 2025, to express our solidarity with people in exile, and to call for a new approach to migration policies at the Franco-British border and in Europe, as well as a total revisiting of the Le Touquet agreements."

We have seen as recently as the last few days that the UK and French governments have continued to pander to disgraceful and divisive far-right rhetoric on refugees. We must bring our communities together to support those fleeing war, poverty and persecution. We cannot be clearer that those making the perilous crossing at the English Channel are not our enemies and we must resist all forms of hate and division that many in the political and media establishment seek to aim their way.

In line with our 5 Demands, we continue in our calls for a humane migration system based on dignity, compassion and care, which gives asylum seekers the right to work, healthcare and housing.