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Migrant Dinghy Tragedy: Inquiry Hears of Rescue Failures and Stereotyping
Bereaved families and survivors testifying at the inquiry into the deadliest ever migrant dinghy incident in the English Channel have expressed their belief that the victims being stereotyped as “foreigners” contributed to critical delays in rescue efforts, resulting in a significant loss of life.
Cranston Inquiry Focuses on Rescue Delays
The Cranston inquiry, established to investigate the circumstances surrounding the drowning of at least 27 individuals on November 24, 2021, heard accounts from survivors suggesting that a swifter response could have saved numerous lives.
“Incident Charlie”: Unsuitable Vessel and High Casualties
The four-week inquiry, concluding its evidentiary phase on Thursday, revealed that the dinghy, known as “incident Charlie,” was deemed “wholly unsuitable” for the estimated 33 people it carried, including 13 women and eight children. Tragically, 27 deaths have been confirmed, with four individuals still unaccounted for and only two survivors.
Channel Crossings and Continuing Migrant Deaths
While “incident Charlie” remains the single most devastating event since small boat crossings of the Channel began in 2018, the UN’s International Organisation for Migration reports that at least 130 additional migrants have perished in the Channel since November 2021.
Failings Highlighted: Communication and Intelligence Gaps
The inquiry uncovered a series of operational failures, including inadequate communication and staff shortages at the Dover coastguard center on the night of the incident, compounded by a lack of efficient intelligence sharing within the Home Office.
Mistaken Identity and Delayed Response
Critical delays arose from the confusion between “incident Charlie” and another dinghy, “incident Lima,” where 35 people were successfully rescued. This misidentification led to a premature halt in search efforts for “incident Charlie” passengers, mistakenly marked as a “resolved” situation, leaving those in peril without assistance.
Families Share Grief and Loss
On Wednesday and Thursday, the inquiry received poignant impact statements from grieving relatives who articulated their profound sorrow and sense of loss. This anguish was intensified by the initial uncertainty surrounding the fate of their loved ones.
Unbearable Pain and Lack of Closure
Several relatives expressed a desire to have perished alongside their loved ones to escape the ongoing pain, with many struggling to cope with their absence. Families with missing relatives spoke of the particular agony of lacking closure.
Survivor Account: “We Were Seen as Refugees”
Issa Mohamed Omar, a survivor from Somalia, recounted the harrowing scene when the dinghy capsized around 1:13 am on November 24th.
“It was extremely cold, people were screaming, and complete darkness surrounded us. We all believed we were going to die,” Omar stated. “If rescue had arrived promptly, I am convinced at least half of those individuals would still be alive. We believe the delay in rescue is because we were seen as refugees. We feel dehumanized, treated like animals.”
Last Words: “Help Me, I Don’t Want to Die”
Ali Areef, cousin of Halima Mohammed Shikh, a 33-year-old mother of three who died in the tragedy, relayed Omar’s account from his hospital bedside. According to Omar, he remained with Shikh until her final moments. “Her last words were: ‘Help me, I don’t want to die,’” Areef shared in his impact statement.
Resources Overwhelmed by Increase in Channel Crossings
Dan O’Mahoney, who served as director at the time of “incident Charlie,” previously informed the inquiry that the escalating number of small boat crossings was overwhelming available resources.
“Frankly, we simply required more vessels,” he acknowledged.
Survival Expert: Hours of Potential Survival
Professor Michael Tipton, an expert in water survival, testified that many individuals could have remained alive for several hours after the boat capsized.
Professor Tipton estimated that as many as 15 individuals might have survived for over four hours after the dinghy overturned. Distress signals began shortly after 1:00 am, with the final call at 3:11 am. Passengers are believed to have entered the water around 3:12 am or 3:13 am.
Preventable Tragedy Shaped by Migrant Status
Sonali Naik KC, representing bereaved families and a survivor, delivered concluding remarks on Thursday, stating: “The tragedy of November 24th was avoidable and should have never occurred. The victims’ identities as migrants and as foreigners fundamentally influenced the search and rescue response.”