The report also calls for better documentation of fatalities by both French and UK authorities, emphasizing the need for detailed records on the age, gender, and nationality of victims.

A recent report by the Refugee Council, titled 'Deaths in the Channel – what needs to change', underscores the urgent necessity for a new strategy to prevent migrant fatalities.

Despite the rising number of crossings, government ministers assert they are making headway against people smugglers and have dismissed calls for establishing safe routes for refugees.

Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, stresses the critical need for more safe and legal routes to protect individuals fleeing conflict and persecution.

The Refugee Council is advocating for a pilot refugee visa scheme that would focus on countries with high refugee grant rates, such as Eritrea, Sudan, and Afghanistan.

Evidence suggests that the actual death toll may be even higher than reported, with anecdotal accounts indicating individuals have gone overboard during crossings.

In 2024 alone, at least 69 people have died attempting to cross the Channel, which exceeds the total of 59 deaths recorded from 2019 to 2023 combined.

The analysis for 2024 reveals a significant 25% increase in Channel crossings, with numbers rising from 29,437 in 2023 to 36,816, marking the second-highest total since 2018, although still below the record of 45,774 in 2022.

In response to this surge, French police have intensified enforcement measures, funded by the UK government, making embarkations increasingly perilous through tactics such as the use of teargas and slashing inflatable dinghies.

A spokesperson from the Home Office acknowledged the tragic loss of lives at sea, reaffirming their commitment to preventing crossings and saving lives.