THE leader of an organisation dedicated to helping refugees and asylum seekers has said "we must make the journey safer" after migrants were rescued off the Essex coast.
Two Somali nationals travelling in a small boat off the Harwich coastline were pulled from the sea on Monday as part of a huge rescue operation.
Border Force, the RNLI and the coastguard joined forces for the mission and the men are understood to now be being processed within immigration rules.
An “extensive search” was also launched for a third man by the agencies, but this was called off at 2pm on Tuesday.
Enver Solomon, chief executive of the Refugee Council, has now called on the Government to do more to make migrants' journeys less dangerous.
He said: “Tragically, this is not the first time desperate people have gone missing attempting the dangerous journey across the seas to Britain in search of safety.
“The sad reality is that unless this Government fundamentally changes its approach by committing to an ambitious expansion of safe routes for those in need of protection, the lives of ordinary men, women and children will be at risk of being lost in this way.
“Every day, people are forced to flee their home through no fault of their own and we must do more to make the journey safer.
“This Government’s cruel and ineffective plans of seeking to punish or push away those who try and find safety in our country must end immediately.”
The Home Office has since described the incident as a "reminder of the extreme dangers of crossing the Channel in small boats", but said it was determined to do everything it could "to prevent people dying in the Channel”.
In a statement issue by the department a spokesman said: “We want to thank those who responded to this incident and who continue to work tirelessly to protect lives at sea whilst securing our border.
“While the investigation into this incident continues, it is a reminder of the extreme dangers of crossing the Channel in small boats and the callous disregard for life shown by the criminal gangs.
“We are determined to do everything we can to prevent people dying in the Channel.
“The Government’s New Plan for Immigration, and ongoing work with the French Government, will help us crack down on organised criminals and reform the asylum system to deter people from attempting these deadly crossings.”
The rescue mission started at 4.05pm on Monday when the Harwich lifeboat launched before returning and then launching again at 11.35pm, before going back to shore at 8am on Tuesday.
The RNLI has since said: “RNLI lifeboats from Harwich and Walton and Frinton were involved in a search and rescue operation to a suspected person in the water.
“All have been stood down by HM Coastguard, who are continuing to co-ordinate the search with Border Force.”
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said a Coastguard helicopter and a plane were also sent to the incident.
A spokesman added: “HM Coastguard has been co-ordinating a search and rescue response to an incident off Essex, working with Border Force and other partners.”
On Tuesday, UK authorities rescued or intercepted 145 people in five incidents, while French authorities intercepted five events, preventing 137 people from reaching the UK, the Home Office said.
On Sunday, UK authorities rescued or intercepted 29 people and there were no French interceptions, the department added.
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