New York: At least 13,016 migrants have crossed the English Channel since UK Home Secretary Priti Patel announced her plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda.
According to the Ministry of Defense, 176 people made the crossing on five small boats on August 7, which increased the total to 13,016 since April 14, reports DPA news agency.
It brings the total number of people who have crossed the English Channel so far this year to 18,284. A number of children and babies wrapped in light blue blankets, apparently distributed by the authorities, were among those being moved from the vessel to a waiting bus.
Analysis by the PA news agency of the Ministry of Defense’s provisional figures shows 1,885 people have been brought to the UK so far in August. That is more than half of the 3,053 people rescued in August 2021.
In April, the Home Secretary hailed the Rwanda deal as a “world-class” plan that provided a “blueprint” for other countries to follow.
“The UK asylum system is collapsing under a combination of real humanitarian crises and evil people smugglers profiteering by exploiting the system for their own gains,” Patel had said.
The week in which the deal was announced proved the busiest of the year for migrant crossings when 2,076 made the journey across the Channel.
