Four migrants trying to reach the United Kingdom perished in the English Channel on Friday. French authorities report the inflatable dinghy they were traveling in capsized off the coast near Boulogne-sur-Mer.

Three of the victims were found unconscious in the water, while a fourth clung to the wreckage. Rescue efforts involving a French navy vessel, helicopter, and fishing boat managed to save 63 people. Unfortunately, resuscitation attempts on the four individuals found unconscious were unsuccessful.

"All the shipwrecked individuals were then brought ashore in Boulogne and taken care of by the emergency services on land," the French coastguard said.

This incident marks the first migrant deaths in the Channel under the new UK government led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer.  In April, under the previous administration, five migrants died in similar circumstances.

The United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) responded to the tragedy by urging Starmer's government to collaborate internationally and strengthen asylum rights in their response to the refugee crisis.

"The further loss of life in the Channel this morning is truly awful," stated UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. "My thoughts are with all those affected. Criminal gangs are making vast profit from putting lives at risk. We are accelerating action with international partners to pursue and bring down dangerous smuggler gangs."

UK Home Office statistics released on Wednesday revealed a significant increase in attempted Channel crossings this year compared to the past four. As of July 10th, 2024, 14,058 people have made the perilous journey.  On Tuesday alone, nearly 420 migrants crossed in six boats, averaging 70 people per vessel. This year, a total of 19 migrants have lost their lives attempting the Channel crossing.

The UK government's controversial policy to send undocumented migrants and asylum seekers to Rwanda for processing has been met with resistance from human rights groups and some politicians. While the agreement aims to deter crossings, the first deportation flight planned for June 2022 was halted by the European Court of Human Rights due to legal concerns. (ILKHA)