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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
World
Siobhan Fenton

The extraordinary image that reveals the desperation of Calais migrants

Two migrants cling to the roof of a freight truck as it leaves the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone (Getty)

Extraordinary photos have captured the moment two migrants cling to the roof of a freight truck as they enter the UK.

The unidentified pair were spotted as the truck left the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone in the early hours of Friday morning.

The moment shows some of the lengths which migrants are prepared to go to in a bid to enter the UK. Many are fleeing famine, conflict and persecution in their home countries.

So far, at least nine people have died whilst attempting to make the journey to England.

folkestone-1.jpg Two migrants cling to the roof of a freight truck as it leaves the Eurotunnel terminal in Folkestone folkestone-2.jpg Two migrants cling to the top of a lorry as it leaves the Eurotunnel site in Folkestone, Kent folkestone-3.jpg A police van patrols the Eurotunnel site in Folkestone folkestone-4.jpg Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel in Calais, and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom Leigh Daynes, executive director of Doctors of the World UK (Médecins du Monde), told The Independent, that people are living in "horrendous conditions" leading to "all sorts of terrible health problems."

Mr Daynes claims the charity is "treating a growing number of people who have been injured, many of them seriously, after falling from trucks". Others have died inside the Eurotunnel as they attempt to cling to trains bound for England.

Home Secretary Theresa May has said Britain will spend an extra £7 million to increase security at the Channel Tunnel in a bid to stop migrants from entering. In pictures: Calais crisis intensifies

David Cameron has been criticised after describing migrants as a "swarm". He told ITV: "This is very testing, I accept that, because you have got a swarm of people coming across the Mediterranean, seeking a better life, wanting to come to Britain because Britain has got jobs, it's got a growing economy, it's an incredible place to live.”

His comments were condemned by the Refugee Council, who described his "irresponsible, dehumanising" language as "extremely inflammatory".

Read more
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