Tragic Surge in Child Deaths in the English Channel

A record number of children lost their lives in the English Channel last year while attempting to reach the UK, marking a harrowing increase in fatalities on one of the world’s busiest sea routes. According to the Missing Person’s Project of the UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM), 82 individuals perished in 2024, with 14 of them being minors. This figure represents more than a threefold increase compared to the previous year and is likely an underestimate of the true toll.

From 2018 to 2024, child fatalities in the Channel had never surpassed five in a single year. Among those who tragically died in 2024 were 14-year-old Obada Abd Rabbo and 16-year-old Mohamed Al-Jbawi, both from Syria, who lost their lives on January 14. Additionally, several Iraqi children, including 7-year-old Rola Al-Mayali and 7-year-old Sara Al-Ashimi, also succumbed during the perilous crossing.

The youngest victim identified was just a month old; Maryam Bahez fell from her father’s arms in an overcrowded boat on October 17. The IOM has raised concerns that even those children who survive the treacherous journey often arrive in the UK vulnerable and separated from their families.

Christa Rottensteiner, the IOM’s chief of mission in the UK, emphasized that the alarming number of child deaths serves as a wake-up call for urgent action. “For those whose nationality is known, they are often from war-torn countries or extremely volatile contexts,” she stated, calling for more safe and regular migration routes, as well as support for unaccompanied minors seeking their families.

Dr. Wanda Wyporska, CEO of Safe Passage International, highlighted the terrifying experiences faced by children crossing the Channel in overcrowded boats. Survivors have shared accounts of their fears of drowning and suffering from painful burns caused by broken engines. “It’s horrifying that so many children have died on this unnecessary journey,” she said, attributing these tragedies to the absence of safer migration options that could save lives.

As the situation continues to escalate, advocates urge immediate reforms to create safer pathways for vulnerable migrants, particularly children, to prevent further loss of life in these perilous crossings.