escaped
^It is usually a decision made by the whole family to send the most able and fit to seek asylum.^
OK. Good decision, but why risk the life and limb of that person by dangerously crossing the Channel in a small boat when they could safely seek asylum in France? (And in France, the French are asking why they don't seek asylum in Italy or Spain). I'm sure half these young men haven't got brothers, aunties, uncles, cousins etc waiting to help them in the UK, so my choice would be to start a new life where I safely landed. What's the ulterior motive for getting to the UK?
Language is one issue. It's been shown that people from different countries tend to go to specific countries. Another factor is existing networks.
Incidentally, Cyprus, Estonia, Austria, Greece, Germany, Switzerland, Luxemburg and Belgium all grant more asylum applications per head of existing population than the UK. Germany is by far the number one desired destination for asylum seekers.