FAMILIES of people who died crossing the English Channel in a 2021 disaster have signed an open letter demanding justice for their loved ones to mark the second anniversary.

Thirty-on people died when their small boat capsized in the Channel on November 24 2021.

Searches recovered 27 bodies, including one of a pregnant woman and three children. Four are still missing.

The open letter calls for answers on why British authorities failed their loved ones when they made desperate calls for help, as well as demanding the introduction of safe routes to prevent further loss of life.

A coalition of charities including Calais Appeal, Care4Calais, Freedom from Torture, Refugee Action, the Refugee Council, Safe Passage and the Scottish Refugee Council co-ordinated the letter.

Care4Calais chief executive officer Steve Smith said: “Two years on from the largest loss of life in the English Channel in decades, no one has taken responsibility for the failure of UK authorities to respond to the desperate calls for help from those on board this tragic boat.

“The families don’t have answers as to why their loved ones were left for over 12 hours in the English Channel.

“The UK government has not responded in a manner befitting the scale of this tragedy, failing to open a single safe route that would prevent further loss of life in the Channel.

“Justice will not be served until the families have answers, the people responsible are held accountable and our government starts valuing the lives of refugees by providing safe passage.

“Care4Calais, and all those who stand up for refugees, will not stop until that justice is achieved.”