NGO Report Blames UK and France for 22 Child Deaths in Channel Crossings
A damning new report from the NGO Project Play has accused the UK and French governments of catastrophic failures leading to the deaths of 22 children attempting to cross the Channel in the past two years. The organisation, which has worked with over 2,192 children seeking asylum in the UK from northern France, documents a pattern of violent mistreatment and systemic neglect that has resulted in record fatalities among minors.
Violent Conditions in Northern France
Project Play has meticulously recorded the hostile environment faced by migrants in northern France, where French police regularly employ tactics such as teargassing, forced evictions, and slashing dinghies. These actions have created a perilous situation for families and children, with the NGO highlighting that UK taxpayers are unwittingly funding this violence through a £473 million security agreement with France since 2023. The breakdown of how these funds are spent remains unclear, raising serious questions about accountability and transparency.
Heartbreaking Accounts of Suffering
The report includes harrowing testimonies from children who have endured severe trauma. A four-year-old girl described being teargassed, saying scary scary scary ouch, while another child likened the sensation to something spicy in her mouth, eyes, and lungs. Due to their smaller respiratory systems, children suffer more severe effects from teargas. Additionally, a 12-year-old girl recounted sitting in a boat as police slashed it and teargassed those on board, and a four-year-old sustained chemical burns from dinghy fuel mixed with salt water.
Families attempting to use legal routes, such as the one in one out scheme, have faced rejection under harsh circumstances. One man was denied because his young children lacked proper documentation, leading the family to attempt a dangerous small boat crossing. During this attempt, the father was beaten by French police, resulting in several broken ribs. Children have developed a deep fear of police, often reenacting scenes of arrest or hiding in their play, with one child placing a pretend blue siren on his head to mimic officers.
Calls for Action and Vigils
Katie Hall, advocacy coordinator at Project Play, stated, What we are seeing is a catastrophic failure on both sides of the Channel to ensure that children’s rights are protected. Every day, the children we work with face repeated violence – on the beaches, in living sites, and as a consequence of the basic services they are denied access to. She emphasised that UK investment has correlated with a sharp rise in violence, including record child fatalities.
In response, Project Play is organising vigils in London, Leeds, and Manchester to commemorate the 22 children who lost their lives. Each vigil will feature one toy per child and include a two-minute silence. The report calls for a statutory inquiry into the border security operation and the establishment of safe, accessible asylum routes to prevent further tragedies.
Government Response and Broader Implications
The Home Office and France’s ministry of the interior have been approached for comment, but no statements have been issued yet. This report underscores urgent humanitarian concerns at the UK-France border, highlighting the need for policy reforms to protect vulnerable children and uphold human rights standards. As migration pressures continue, the findings serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of current border strategies.
