The migrants who drowned in the English Channel are Iranian.

A news website announced that the man, woman and three children who drowned in the English Channel were Iranian Kurds. 22 other refugees who were on the boat were rescued.

According to the news website "Hengaw", the man and woman who died along with their three children while trying to reach British soil are from the village of Glineh in Sardasht province.

This news website has also published the names and photos of the victims.

French authorities confirmed on Tuesday, October 27, that a small boat carrying refugees capsized in the English Channel, killing four people. The third child of a Kurdish family is missing.

A total of 27 people are said to have been on the boat. A number of the survivors are being treated in hospital.

Several coast guard boats and a Belgian army helicopter participated in the refugee rescue operation.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed his condolences to the victims' families.

British Home Secretary Priti Patel also expressed her condolences to the victims' families and said she was deeply saddened to hear the news.

Patel said the incident once again highlighted the dangers of crossing the canal, and vowed to do everything in his power to prevent smugglers from exploiting needy asylum seekers.

The English Channel is a waterway located in northern France and southern Great Britain, connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the North Sea.

Increasing number of asylum seekers crossing the waterway

More than 7,400 people have arrived in the UK via the English Channel in small boats this year, around four times more than in 2019, according to data from PA Media.

This year's "record" was set with the arrival of 416 refugees on September 2nd.
Official statistics show that from June 2019 to June 2020, more than 3,400 of those who applied for asylum were under the age of 17. Of these, nearly 2,800 were unaccompanied children.

The British government can use the Dublin Regulation to return asylum seekers who enter the country from France.

According to this agreement, refugees who have entered Europe are only allowed to apply for asylum at their point of entry into European territory.

Source: DW