France's coastguard rescues 223 migrants from the Channel
Rescue operation in progress as UK PM makes new pledge on Channel crossings
Coastguard brought ashore 223 migrants, including children, after another eventful day in the Channel
The French coastguard rescued 223 migrants from the English Channel on Tuesday, authorities said, as the British prime minister promised new measures to tackle the issue.
The coastguard said it had intercepted 11 boats in the Channel, with the migrants brought ashore at the ports of Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer.
They included 63 children, most of them unaccompanied, the coastguard said.
UK PM makes new pledge on Channel crossings
The news came as UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to "do whatever it takes" to stop people crossing the Channel in small boats.
In a speech in Kent, Sunak said the government would "take back control" of the UK's borders and "make sure that our immigration laws are enforced fairly and firmly".
He promised new measures to deter people from making the crossing, including increasing the number of patrols in the Channel and working with other countries to tackle the issue.
Ongoing rescue operation
The coastguard said the rescue operation was ongoing and that it was "doing everything possible" to prevent further tragedies in the Channel.
In recent months, there has been a sharp increase in the number of people attempting to cross the Channel in small boats, with many seeking asylum in the UK.
The government has been criticized for its handling of the issue, with some accusing it of failing to do enough to prevent the crossings.
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