By GB News (World News) | Created at 2024-12-24 12:11:13 | Updated at 2024-12-25 00:58:41
12 hours ago
Thousands of migrants are currently massing along the northern coast of France, preparing to cross to the UK on Christmas day.
GB News has filmed exclusive images of many hundreds of migrants around one makeshift camp near Dunkirk.
This channel's producer saw hundreds more along the main roads around Dunkirk.
Sources have told GB News that thousands have gathered in multiple locations along a 50-mile stretch of coast from Dunkirk, past Calais and down towards Boulogne.
They are waiting for an improvement in weather conditions which is expected late tonight and into Christmas day.
Strong winds in the English Channel have prevented small boats from crossing for more than a week.
UK and French authorities are preparing for a run of better conditions over the next five days, which could see more than two thousand migrants cross into UK waters.
More than 35,000 have made the illegal journey from France so far this year, 20 per cent higher than last year.
The migrants are waiting for an improvement in weather conditions which is expected late tonight and into Christmas day
GB News
In October, the numbers crossing passed the 29,437 who made the journey during the whole of last year.
GB News travelled to the makeshift migrant camp at Grand Synth near Dunkirk on Tuesday morning.
The channel's Kent producer counted more than 500 migrants in that one camp alone.
Many were being fed by local activist groups and charities.
The numbers in and around the coastal camps fluctuate, depending on weather conditions and the schedule for launches prepared by the people smugglers.
Many migrants are camped further inland but travel to the coast in the hours and days ahead of their planned sailing day.
Early on Tuesday morning, French police intercepted an attempted small boat launch from a beach at Sangatte near Calais.
The boat, engine and dozens of lifejackets were discarded by the smugglers as they ran off when police moved in to foil the launch.
Winds in the Channel are not expected to die down until later this evening and into Christmas morning.
Border Force has been placed on a heightened state of readiness, to prepare for five to six days when the weather will be calm enough for small boat launches.
One small boat smuggler has offered migrants a “Christmas special” deal to illegally cross the Channel.
The smuggler, who uses the name 'Salar' on the Telegram messaging site.
He wrote that he had 15 places available on one small boat.
He said: “From the 25th until the 29th, there will be special offers as the weather is also good – God willing, you will be in England before the new year.”
