The port towns of Northern France from Dunkirk and Calais to Caen and Ouistreham, mark the UK border. Those present as refugees have one goal and that’s to reach the UK. Their reasons are varied and individual from failed claims in Europe, to speaking English or wanting to be with a family member.
But life in Northern France for refugees is shaped by systems of oppression. The encampments are no more than wasteland; open and exposed to all seasons of weather. As if conditions weren’t inhumane enough, the sites in Dunkirk and Calais are regularly evicted and destroyed – shelters, community spaces, and makeshift shops are all flattened and destined for landfill. The evictions are carried out by armed police under court orders, and they strip people of their few belongings and shelters. These actions are justified by laws, but where is the compassion? Displaced people are seen as undeserving; they’re dehumanised by a system that refuses to offer any kind of refuge at all.
Amidst this hostility, our partner NGOs in Northern France are meeting the most basic human needs of the people arriving and surviving here. That is, tents, sleeping bags, water, food, some basic hygiene and a change of clothes. There are NGO’s further dedicated to women, children and teen services, as well as first aid and medical care, and some information services.
