BORIS Johnson’s government is facing calls to “rethink its hostile” approach to refugees after four members of a family – including two young children – were confirmed to have perished in the Channel. Their baby son is also feared dead.

Iraqi Kurds Rasoul Iran-Nejad and Shiva Mohammad Panahi, both 35, their daughter Anita, nine, and son Armin, six, were crossing from France to the UK on Tuesday when the boat they were on sank. The couple’s 15-month-old son Artin, who was also on the boat, remains missing.

Fifteen other passengers were taken to hospital and an investigation into the sinking has been opened in Dunkirk by the French public prosecutor.

The family were from the city of Sardasht in western Iran, near to the border with Iraq, according to the BBC’s international affairs correspondent Jiyar Gol.

The journalist reported that they were among thousands of Iranian-Kurdish refugees from the region who tried to flee to Europe after facing political persecution and economic hardship.

Rasoul’s friend, a refugee in Dunkirk, told the BBC journalist in a phone call that the family left Iran on August 7 for Turkey, took a ferry to Italy and then drove to France almost a month ago. They paid €24,000 (£21,600) to the smugglers.

The BBC also reported that Rasoul’s brother in Sardasht told their reporter that his brother had sold everything to save his life and seek a better future for his family.

Conditions in the English Channel had been rough early on Tuesday and the boat was spotted about 2km (1.2 miles) off the French coast by a passing sailing boat at about 9.30am local time, which alerted French authorities.

Four French vessels, one Belgian helicopter and a French fishing boat took part in the search and rescue operation. But by the time rescue teams reached the struggling boat, it had already sunk.

Joanna Cherry, the SNP’s shadow home secretary, expressed her sadness and outrage.

“The terrible tragedy in the Channel must serve as a final wake-up call for the UK Government before more innocent lives are lost,” she said.

“The UK Government must rethink its hostile approach and urgently step up international co-operation to strengthen safe and legal routes to help vulnerable people fleeing hardship and conflict reach safety.

“The harrowing and entirely avoidable deaths of two children and two adults yesterday must signal an immediate U-turn in the approach of the UK and French authorities. Rather than ramping up rhetoric to involve the military and to crack down on small boats, the UK Government must heed the warnings from charities and organisations to help save lives.”

Charity Care4Calais has said the tragedy should lead to the creation of a new system which would allow asylum seekers to apply for refuge in the UK from outside its borders and that this move would “put an end to terrifying, dangerous sea crossings and stop tragedy striking again”.

Save The Children called for a “joint plan” from London and Paris to ensure the safety of vulnerable families, adding: “The English Channel must not become a graveyard for children.”

Johnson said his thoughts were with the victims’ loved ones as he called for a crack down on the boat crossings.

“We have offered the French authorities every support as they investigate this terrible incident

and will do all we can to crack down on the ruthless criminal gangs who prey on vulnerable people by facilitating these dangerous journeys,” he said.

In August Abdulfatah Hamdallah, 28, from Sudan, perished as he attempted to cross the English Channel in a dinghy, using shovels as oars.

His body was found on Sangatte beach, near Calais, three hours after a rescue operation ended.