Deaths of 22 children in Channel due to catastrophic failure' by UK and France, NGO says

"Project Play, an NGO that has worked with 2,192 children hoping to cross the Channel from northern France to the UK to claim asylum in the last two years, has documented the impact of the hostile conditions in northern France due to regular teargassing, evictions and dinghy-slashing by the French police. During that period the NGO documented the deaths of 22 children trying to cross the Channel, including five last year."

"Since 2023, the UK has provided 473m to the French government for the securitisation of the border in northern France but the breakdown of how that money is spent is unclear. Project Play workers say UK taxpayers are not aware that they are helping to fund violent tactics against children at the UK-France border."

"Many families with children have tried to come to UK legally under the one in one out scheme which allows one person to come legally to the UK in exchange for another who arrived in a small boat being forcibly removed to France but have had their applications rejected. One man was rejected because his two children, who were aged six and one, did not have the correct documentation."

Project Play documented catastrophic failures by UK and French governments resulting in 22 child deaths while crossing the Channel over two years. The NGO worked with 2,192 children and recorded deaths caused by crushing and asphyxiation in overcrowded dinghies, with the youngest victim being eight years old. Hostile conditions in northern France included regular teargassing, evictions, and dinghy-slashing by French police. The UK provided £473 million to France for border securitization since 2023, but spending transparency remains unclear. Families attempting legal asylum routes through the one-in-one-out scheme faced rejection, forcing them toward dangerous boat crossings. Children experienced violence including teargassing and police brutality. The report demands a statutory inquiry and establishment of safe, accessible asylum routes.

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