Transcribe your podcast
[00:00:00]

Ruha was seven years old. Her life spent moving through Europe on a long journey towards the UK, a journey that ended with her death.

[00:00:11]

She was beautiful.

[00:00:17]

I lost her from my hands, my little princess. She was seven years old. She'd seen nothing in this world.

[00:00:30]

We wanted to make their lives better.

[00:00:37]

Ruwa's family had paid a people smuggler to take them to Britain, but the boat capsized and Ruha drowned.

[00:00:48]

Those peoples are criminals. They do not see humans as humans. They only see money.

[00:00:54]

They treat humans like objects.

[00:00:57]

They have no morals, ethics, or humanity.

[00:01:00]

.

[00:01:04]

Bewildered in grief, Ruwa's three brothers.

[00:01:08]

She was very dear to us, but she's gone now, and I want her to come back, but she won't.

[00:01:21]

This wasn't a normal channel crossing attempt. The family had boarded a small stolen riverboat, 12 miles inland from the French coastline. Collecting her body from a morgue, Ruhe's family, dreading the farewell to come. As they left, Ruhe's small wooden coffin followed behind. There was little time to linger. Muslim tradition dictates burials must take place before sunset.

[00:01:58]

We often talk about the dangers of cross-channel migration, that this is what it looks and feels like when things go terribly wrong. A bereaved, devastated family, a local community trying to offer solace, and at the heart of it, the grave of a seven-year-old girl.

[00:02:17]

Her family say they are hollow with grief, but that they still plan on getting to Britain, and that will mean another smuggler and another dangerous boat. Adam Parson, Sky News, Dunkirk.