Bangladesh, Nov. 29 -- At the makeshift camps in France near Calais and Dunkirk, migrants are digging in, waiting for their chance to make a dash across the English Channel despite the deaths of at least 27 people this week when their boat sank a few miles (kilometers) from the French coast.

Police have stepped up patrols in recent days and the weather has worsened, making this a bad time to attempt a crossing. But most migrants say the tragedy won't prevent them from climbing into a flimsy inflatable boat packed with up to 50 people in hopes of reaching Britain.

"I don't afraid of anything," a 22-year-old from Iran who identified himself only as Kawa said in halting English. "Water? If we die . sorry to say this but we already died. No...