English Channel Turns Deadly Trap: At Least 82 Lives, Including 14 Children, Lost in Bid to Reach UK

English Channel Turns Deadly Trap: At Least 82 Lives, Including 14 Children, Lost in Bid to Reach UK

Last year, a record number of children lost their lives in the English Channel while attempting to reach the UK, marking the highest-ever death toll in the history of the Channel. The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) recorded 82 deaths in 2024, including 14 minors. This number is more than three times higher than the previous year.

From 2018 to 2024, the number of child deaths in the Channel never exceeded five in a single year. However, officials warn that the 2024 death toll could be even higher than reported.

Among the children who died in 2024 were 14-year-old Obada Abd Rabbo from Syria and his fellow countryman Mohamed Al-Jbawi, 16, both of whom died on January 14. Several Iraqi children also perished during the crossing, including 7-year-old Rola Al-Mayali, who drowned when the boat carrying her and her family capsized near the Channel. Another child, 7-year-old Sara Al-Ashimi from Iraq, drowned on April 23. The youngest victim, Maryam Bahez, just a month old, died on October 17 after falling from her father's hands in an overcrowded boat. Her family was from Iraqi Kurdistan.

The IOM has warned that even those children who survive the perilous journey are often left vulnerable upon arrival in the UK, as many of them are separated from their families.

Christa Rottensteiner, the IOM's chief of mission in the UK, told The Guardian: "The record high number of children who died in the English Channel last year is a wake-up call that more needs to be done."

She added, "For those whose nationality is known, most are from war-torn countries or extremely volatile environments. There is an urgent need for safe and regular routes."

Dr. Wanda Wyporska, CEO of Safe Passage International, told The Guardian: "Crossing the Channel in these small and overcrowded boats is a terrifying experience that no child should have to go through. We know children are often deeply traumatized by this journey, and it can take a long time for them to talk about their terrifying ordeal."

"It is horrifying that so many children have died on this unnecessary journey. This is a clear consequence of the lack of safe routes that could save children's lives."