I'm writing this as I read the news of an unaccompanied Afghan boy of 15 losing his life trying to get to the UK from France to join his family. The British government refuses to even acknowledge the existence of such people in the camps in Calais and Dunkirk, let alone assess their claim to seek safety in the UK. It was my aim to write about my experiences in Calais as I always do and to report on the situation and the outstanding efforts and charity of others. But it seems clear now there comes a point where charity can only go so far and what is needed is a political solution to save the lives of thousands of people trapped in northern France. My experience in Calais has convinced me that this point has been reached.
The situation is this. Thousands of humans fleeing untold misery, deprivation, persecution and death are stuck in conditions with appalling sanitation, a perpetual threat of disease or illness (norovirus, scabies, diarrhoea through chronic malnutrition, respiratory infections), shortening food and shelter supplies, a lack of attention from large charities and NGO's, maltreatment, beatings and tear gas from the police, a significant risk of death if they try to flee to the UK and are being left to fester where any dreams and aspirations of a marginally better life are actively denied. This situation is morally unjustifiable. It could be seen as a moral outrage.
In my time there I can see the conditions are both improving and worsening but ultimately completely unsustainable. There are more wooden structures and there seemed to be many volunteers over the Christmas period distributing clothes, food and essential supplies. However the weather is worsening significantly. Strong winds and rain batter the camp destroying tents, ruining clothes, blankets and sleeping bags which become drenched and float in growing stagnant pools of water. The mud is everywhere.
This means tensions can rise at distribution points. The demand for warm blankets and sleeping bags regularly outstrips supply leaving many disappointed and frustrated. Also more and more people arrive each day. I think many expect pristine white tents and conditions expertly organised by large charities. I can only imagine the sense of disappointment. This is not to say that that the volunteers there are not doing an absolutely incredible job, they work tirelessly to improve the lives and ensure the survival of thousands. I only mean to make the point that there is a noticeable absence of large organisations and funding.
On top of this there are more and more families and small children in the camp. I wrote in my last post how you hope the playful children do not grow up to realise the situation they are in. It seems this time round that some children have unfortunately had that realisation. I have wondered when my first memory was, and at what age someone has their first memory. I assume it is around one or two years old. A thought that concerns me is: what if your first memory was in the camp? Imagine how impactful that could be on the rest of your life even if you managed to escape to safety which at the present time seems exceptionally unlikely.
Usually when I spend time in Calais I busy myself with anything that needs doing, which mostly involves manning the distribution point that gives out tents, sleeping bags and blankets. This time was not much different, except this time I spent more time meeting, getting to know and becoming friends with people stuck there. Doctors, engineers, electricians, students whose names I should not make public. These are the most generous and welcoming people I have ever met. I find it curious that the kindest and warmest people I have ever met are in the most desperate situation, whilst some of the most hostile and selfish people I have ever met are in positions of relative luxury.
This stronger personal attachment now made it harder to tear myself away from the camp and confirmed that this situation must change. It is completely unsustainable and as conditions inevitably worsen and the risk of death increases when trying to get to the UK there is only so much charity can do.
I take the view that the UK government is, in part, directly responsible for the situation. If it is the case that the government has, instead of sending humanitarian aid, invested millions of pounds in more security, police, higher fences and increasing the risk of death to any who wish to come to the UK, then this naturally contributes to the suffering and death. If the government refuses to provide a safe passage then this leaves no other option but for people to wallow in the appalling conditions. If the government refuses to take in any refugees more than the minimal amount proposed and if the government ignores the plights of any refugee in Europe and in fact demonises and scaremongers about such refugees then it would be the case that the UK government has actively been responsible for the appalling situation. This too would be a moral outrage.
Some could argue that the UK ought to look after its own citizens who live under the laws of the UK. Interestingly, in my experience the argument that 'we should look after our own first' is the favourite argument of those who do nothing to help other people in their own country. Also as we have seen UK laws and policy directly affect those in Calais and Dunkirk. If we have obligations to those who live under UK law then we have obligations to those in northern France. This is not some terrible disaster in a far off land which we could (in my view, unjustifiably) ignore. This is a crisis on our doorstep which is actively worsened by the actions and inactions of the UK government. Even if you hold the view that it's not our business to solve the world's problems you may agree with me that it would be wrong to actively contribute to those problems and worsen the lives of thousands of people. If so then you might favour the government changing its policy which in my view is the essential thing to do.
I am convinced that the UK government must change its stance towards those stuck in northern France in order to save lives, and that all the extraordinary efforts of the real volunteers and activists there can only treat the problem and not solve it. Of course charity and donations are desperately needed as conditions worsen, yet the solution is a political one and it is sorely needed and morally required. This would prevent further deaths such as the one today.
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