Forty-two percent of those who came to “the Jungle” in Calais are from warring parts of Sudan and South Sudan. Thirty-two percent are from Afghanistan. Others are from Syria, Yemen, Iraqi Kurdistan, Pakistan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Egypt, and more. They have crossed anywhere from six to 13 countries to arrive in Calais, their final goal being to reach the U.K.
In Calais, it seems, they are facing the hardest border to cross.
Many have died or been seriously injured in their attempts to cross the border from Calais. One couple was trying to cross by train — he made it on; she leapt, wrapped her arms around him, but did not get her bottom half onto the train. She was cut in half. In another case, a brother and sister tried to cross by truck. They were both hit on the road — he died, and she is in the hospital.
Most people from the Jungle camp who are in the hospital were wounded in accidents while trying to get into the U.K. Broken bones and deep cuts on arms, legs, and fingers are the most commonly suffered injuries. Volunteer teams have been visiting refugees in the hospital, and we have had as many as 16 to visit each time. We take food and toiletries and, for those we have come to know, we try to bring a small gift.
Last week, we spent time in the Jungle relaying information to each community: The Calais government won the right to shut down any place of business in the Jungle: restaurants, barber shops, vegetable stalls, and cigarette shops. Anyone continuing to work in the businesses could and would be arrested.
With the help of others from over 20 organizations, including L’Auberge des Immigrants, Secour Catholique, Refugee Youth Center, and The Migrants' Law Project, we shared pamphlets containing information about the legal rights each person has in case they do get arrested and or harassed. This information was printed in Arabic, English, Amharic, Farsi, and Pashtu.
The Jungle camp was supposed to be demolished on Oct. 17. Instead the government moved the date to Oct. 24 to give them “time” to figure out what to do with the unaccompanied minors in the camp. The idea was to register as many minors as possible.
But some young people have been waiting more than a year to reunite with family. One volunteer likened the process to a child doing homework on the bus to class, after having weeks to get it done.
On Oct. 24, registration lines were put into place — minors, families, vulnerable people suffering from physical and mental problems, and those who wish to seek asylum in France all lined up. The government thought they would register 3,000. They only managed 1,200 registrations so far, but French and English police have already begun taking down or destroying dwellings in the Jungle.
The registration lines will continue until further notice.
We asked the minors we have come to know about their registration process. Many have registered and are staying in containers that will supposedly be spared from demolition. One child I have grown close to suffers from severe anxiety — daily, I am reminded of his journey to Calais and the horrors he faced in Libya when his terrors began. The lines were too long — he did not make registration today.
I am nervous for everyone. There is so much misinformation; the refugees of the Jungle and other camps like Isberg hear differing reports, which they then share among themselves. Tensions are growing because we, too, are given limited information, and can’t guarantee anything.
Would you trust someone who cannot give you any guarantees?
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