22 March 2022

Babies and young children carried to safety as migrant crossings continue

22 March 2022

Babies wrapped in blankets were carried to safety as more people arrived in Kent after crossing the English Channel.

Several children, including some who appeared to be only a few weeks or months old and others who were too young to walk, were among the large numbers of people seen being brought ashore in Dover on Tuesday.

Crossings have continued this week amid warm weather and calm seas.

Babies were among those brought ashore in Dover (Gareth Fuller/PA) (PA Wire)

The Home Office said UK authorities rescued or intercepted 394 people in 11 boats on Tuesday while French authorities stopped at least 10 boats carrying 467 people who were trying to reach the UK.

Authorities rescued or intercepted 213 people on six boats on Monday, the department said.

Since the start of the year, more than 2,800 people have reached the UK after navigating busy shipping lanes from France in small boats, according to data compiled by the PA news agency.

That is more than three times the amount recorded this time last year.

On Tuesday last week 405 people made the crossing to the UK, in what is thought to have been the highest daily total so far in 2022.

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