Three bodies, believed to be migrants attempting to cross the Channel to the UK, were discovered on northern French beaches this week, bringing the total number of recovered bodies to 12 since late October.
On November 14, a decomposed body of a man in his 30s washed ashore in Calais. Earlier, remains of two individuals were found on beaches in Sangatte and Wissant. Authorities suspect these deaths occurred during dangerous crossings in overloaded and unsafe inflatable boats.
The UN’s Missing Migrants project has documented at least 70 migrant deaths in the Channel this year, many from asphyxiation in overcrowded dinghies. However, aid groups and survivors claim the true number is higher, with several missing still unaccounted for after recent shipwrecks.
French authorities focus on confirmed sightings, leaving families of the missing in distress as unverified reports go undocumented. Migrant aid organizations in the Calais region estimate around 10 additional individuals remain missing from recent incidents.
