The UK and Iraq have reached a historic agreement to fight people smuggling, aiming to stop the dangerous crossings of migrants in small boats across the Channel.
According to the BBC, this deal marks the first big step in the UK government’s promise to tackle smugglers at the source instead of just blocking boats.
During her visit to Iraq, UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper signed an agreement to speed up the return of failed Iraqi asylum seekers and strengthen efforts to catch and prosecute smugglers.
She worked closely with Iraqi leaders, including Abdul Amir al-Shammari, the interior minister, and officials in Kurdistan, where many smuggling gangs operate.
This collaboration includes sharing intelligence, running joint law enforcement missions, and training Iraqi border officers.
As reported by the BBC, the UK will provide £300,000 to boost Iraq’s border security and another £200,000 to Kurdistan to address illegal migration and organized crime. Cooper emphasized the importance of this partnership in targeting the smugglers, who profit from dangerous crossings and harm border security.
The deal also involves a communications campaign to warn Iraqis about the real dangers of illegal migration, aiming to counter misleading promises by smugglers on social media.
A joint taskforce will work on improving Iraq’s biometric systems to identify migrants more effectively. However, Cooper avoided revealing specific numbers about how many failed asylum seekers would be sent back or how fast this process would move.
One heartbreaking story highlights the urgency of this effort. Shukria Badar, a grieving mother from Erbil, told the BBC about her son Baryar Mohamed, who died when his overloaded boat sank in the Channel. She blames smugglers for his death and called for harsh penalties against them.
Despite these measures, the fight against smugglers won’t be easy. Some, like a smuggler interviewed by the BBC, said the agreement might make their operations slower but wouldn’t stop them entirely. Smugglers claim migrants understand the risks yet continue the journey because of cheaper but overcrowded boats.
Iraq’s interior minister believes this agreement will make a real difference. He told the BBC that by combining training, intelligence sharing, and expertise, both nations can tackle these criminal networks effectively. This collaboration is expected to set the stage for broader partnerships between Iraq and the UK in the future.
Credit : BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy4nj8g8xn0o