An anti-racist group has called for safer routes to be made available for refugees claiming asylum following the death of a young Sudanese man.

Medway Stand Up to Racism has hit out at what it believes are misleading claims by politicians over Channel crossings.

It comes after the body of a man, believed to be in his twenties, from Sudan was found washed up on a Sangatte beach by French authorities on Wednesday .

The French authorities found the drowned boy and announced the death with "immense sadness."

Home Secretary Priti Patel described the news as "an upsetting and tragic loss of a young life".

But local group Medway Stand Up to Racism have claimed it is government policy which is contributing to such tragic circumstances.

A statement from the group read: "The death of a young Sudanese refugee who drowned trying to cross the Channel to the UK is an unnecessary tragedy that could have been avoided if there was a safe route by which refugees could come to the UK..

"Contrary to what many politicians have claimed, it is not illegal to cross the Channel.

"Under international law anyone has the right to apply for asylum in any country that has signed and ratified the 1951 UN Convention on Refugees and to stay there until their claim has been properly assessed.

"Our government's policy is to circumvent our obligation under that Convention by preventing refugees, many of them children who have family here, from reaching the UK and exercising their right to claim asylum."

The group added that it not only felt that approach was failing but it was "adding more misery for people" who have been forced to leave their homes and are "already traumatised by their experiences".

It believes refugees stranded in Northern France are taking desperate measures to cross the Channel because conditions there are so appalling.

Some politicians have pointed the blame at French authorities, the group added, but it believes the British government has been damaging the situation by urging them to shutdown any camps and prevent refugees staying in Calais.

"Many politicians have tried to whip up hostility and hatred towards refugees"

It said: "Many politicians have tried to whip up hostility and hatred towards refugees.

"But refugees are not the enemy, they are people like us who have had the misfortune to experience war or oppression and are seeking somewhere safe to live.

"They are usually grateful to countries that give them shelter and keen to work and contribute.

It believes providing a safe route for those refugees who wish to come to the UK to claim asylum would be a more desirable option.

The anti-racist group said this would in its opinion help put people traffickers out of business and save the huge amount of money it costs to try and keep them out."

"Most importantly it would prevent many more tragic and unnecessary deaths," it added.

It comes after he UK government recently entered talks to find a way of making the crossing "unviable", including appointing a clandestine channel threat commander.

Small boats commander Dan O’Mahoney travelled to Paris last week to seek stronger enforcement measures as Border Force continues to deal with crossings along the south coast of Kent.

In a statement earlier this month, he said: "We continue to work with France to make the small boats route unviable, and I’m pleased to see that the French have prevented a significant number of people crossing the Channel today and yesterday."

For further insights into the Channel Crossings and the situation so far click here .

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