Adapted from the Refugee Council's explanation. (Of course, you've googled "why do people risk crossing in boats?")
It’s important to first acknowledge the global context, which is that the vast majority of refugees – 72% – live in a neighbouring country to the one they have fled (because they hope to go home). Other European countries including France receive many more asylum applications than the UK. The people who do come to the UK to claim asylum represent a tiny proportion of refugees globally. Here are some of the factors that lead to them seeking protection here.
- Family and community. Seeking out family and community is a human impulse, and it is only natural for refugees to want to be reunited with their loved ones. With the UK’s restricted pathways to family reunion, however, refugee families torn apart by war are forced to face indefinite separation or make the desperate choice to risk their lives to be reunited.
- What is safe? A country that you consider “safe” may not feel safe to every individual. Refugees may have had bad experiences in a country that make them feel unsafe or unwelcome. Or they may have had difficulties accessing that country’s asylum system. Poor living conditions and lack of food, shelter and healthcare are also factors that push people to take even greater risks in their journey to safety.
You may feel that competing with other countries as to how to be nasty is the way to go. I think you're in a minority.
