As of this year, more than 18,000 migrants have successfully crossed the English Channel and reached the UK, following in the footsteps of 661 individuals who made the journey just

yesterday.

Home Office records indicate that Monday saw 661 migrants arriving on British shores, undertaking the journey in 15 separate boats, marking the third-highest daily total for the year thus far.

The cumulative count for the year, up to this point, is 18,618 migrants, as analyzed by the PA news agency based on Government figures.

Comparatively, this figure is about 13% lower than the corresponding total from the previous year, which had witnessed over 21,300 arrivals by this date.

The past week saw 1,278 individuals completing the crossing, with six out of seven days witnessing arrivals.

Notably, the year's peak for daily arrivals occurred on August 10, with 756 migrants arriving in 14 boats. The second-highest daily total was recorded on July 7, seeing 686 migrants make the journey across in 13 boats.

This scenario unfolds as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak refrains from assuring the cessation of Channel crossings by the upcoming general election, acknowledging the intricate nature of the issue. Concurrently, the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) think tank contends that the government's strategies to address unauthorized migration could lead to an enduring backlog, leaving numerous asylum seekers in limbo and necessitating accommodation solutions.

While the Prime Minister emphasizes his dedication to stemming the flow of boats and highlights that migrant numbers are on the decline after several years, he concedes that resolving the crisis overnight would not be forthright to the public.

Simultaneously, activists plan to dispatch thousands of postcards to child asylum seekers, an initiative spurred by the replacement of murals featuring cartoon characters earlier this year at a migrant reception center in Kent. The murals, including figures like Mickey Mouse and Baloo from The Jungle Book, were deemed overly "welcoming" by Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, who later cited their inappropriateness for most of the young residents.

In response, the "Cartoons Not Cruelty" campaign was born, advocating for the restoration of the murals and distributing postcards with cheerful designs, aiming to bring comfort and convey the message of being seen and valued to young asylum seekers. The Refugee Council is assisting in the distribution of these postcards, which feature motifs such as flowers, love hearts, and teddy bears, and are open for online signatures from the public. Photo by Mstyslav Chernov/Unframe, Wikimedia commons.