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An Iranian-Kurdish family, who died when their migrant ship capsized in the English Channel, were warned not to undertake the dangerous journey due to bad weather conditions.
Rasoul Iran-Nejad and his wife Shiva Mohammed Panahi, both 35, drowned with two of his children, Armin, six years old and Anita, who was nine.
A third son, Artin, who was only 15 months old, is still missing at sea.
Choman Manish said he spoke with the family most days at their makeshift home in a jungle camp outside Dunkirk, France.
The 37-year-old Kurd from Iraq told Sky News they were a “beautiful friendly family.”
French rescuers have said there is no hope of finding any more survivors of the ship.
He said the family had told him of their plans to join others on a small boat, which was due to leave Dunkirk for the UK early Tuesday morning.
The ship had a capacity of 18 passengers. However, it is understood that it was overloaded with up to 28 people.
French rescuers have said there is no hope of finding any more survivors of the ship.
Mr. Manish said: “I am very sad because I know this family. I advised them not to go by boat, it is not good and it is a very bad situation if they stay in the water.”
“I said, it will be bad for you. They told me that God is great. I know that God is great, but what can I do.
“I told them many times, but they never accepted my word … they trusted God, they believe that God will protect them.”
Manish has been camped in the Dunkirk jungle for more than four months, along with more than 500 immigrants, all hoping to make it to the UK.
Many in the countryside are Kurdish and the news of the English Channel tragedy hit them hard.
He said, “Everyone is really sad here. We are very sorry to hear that, but what can we do.”
Conditions in the camp are miserable. The torrential rain in recent days has turned the ground into a mud bath.
Several migrants were rescued after the sinking.
Manish said people are still desperate to cross the English Channel and will try it in a small boat, even during the winter months.
He said human traffickers are still operating and have many clients.
“Yes, they are still working and there are still many people wanting to go. They are not going to stop, when the wind is good, they try.”
The 37-year-old has been traveling for four years, since he left Iraq.
He was jailed for a year by the Greek authorities and said he had been ill-treated in several other European countries.
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He said he tried to reach the UK in a small boat on 11 separate occasions. But each time, they stopped him before he got to the boat, or they turned him over in the water.
He said that he now plans to abandon his dream of reaching the UK and will instead head to Belgium in the coming days, where he plans to seek asylum there.
