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UK Launches Advertising Campaign in Iraq to Deter Channel Crossings
The Home Office is set to initiate an advertising campaign in Iraq aimed at discouraging individuals from risking the perilous journey across the English Channel in small boats. This move follows similar efforts undertaken in Albania and Vietnam by the previous Conservative administration during 2023 and 2024.
Recent statistics from the Home Office reveal a notable increase in crossings, with 592 migrants successfully making the journey on a single day last Sunday. This figure represents the highest recorded total for a March day.
Home Office minister Dame Angela Eagle emphasized the dangers posed by criminal organizations that exploit vulnerable individuals through misleading information disseminated on social media. She stated, “Ruthless criminal gangs spread dangerous lies on social media to exploit people for money, and we are exposing them using the real stories of their victims.”
Critics, including the Refugee Council, contend that a social media campaign is unlikely to alter the decision-making of those fleeing persecution, who often face desperate circumstances.
Among the campaign materials is an advertisement depicting a wrecked dinghy adrift in water, along with a testimony from a survivor who recalls, “the boat was too crowded” and “[I] saw people disappear into the sea.” Another ad features the account of a woman who stated, “I was promised a well-paid job. Instead, I was a slave.”
Thus far in 2024, a total of 2,716 individuals have crossed the Channel, marking a 20% increase compared to the same timeframe last year, although this year’s numbers are lower than those recorded in 2022. Overall, in 2023, 36,816 crossings were reported, with more than 2,000 of those originating from Iraq.
In light of these developments, Border Security Commander Martin Hewitt recently visited Iraq to foster international collaboration aimed at dismantling the networks orchestrating these dangerous crossings. “Our international campaign is sending a clear message to prospective migrants that these criminals cannot be trusted,” Hewitt remarked.
The advertisements will primarily target audiences in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region of Iraq and will be disseminated through various channels, including social media, apps, and news websites.
In related news, the Home Office plans to sign a joint communique with the Vietnamese government to bolster their cooperative efforts in preventing the exploitation of irregular migrants. This agreement aims to disrupt the operations of criminal gangs, enhance intelligence sharing, and facilitate the return of individuals lacking legal rights to reside in the UK.
As Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak identified “stopping the boats” as a core priority, proposing the controversial Rwanda plan, intended to deter crossings by proposing the relocation of individuals to Rwanda. However, legal challenges stalled the initiative, and the approach faced increasing scrutiny as the 2024 general election approached.
Upon taking office, the Labour government chose to abandon the Rwanda plan, shifting focus toward combating the criminal gangs responsible for organizing small boat crossings.
Source
www.bbc.com