What do Calais refugees really need?
We are now into the second cycle of our new distribution system and that means we have asked every refugee in the camp what is the one thing they most need. So what did they say?
Well so far they have asked for and we have distributed:
4,786 joggers, 3,420 hoodies, 3,634 T shirts, 2,484 boxers, 1,392 spray deodorants, 1,826 shampoo and shower gel, 1,172 pairs of socks, 453 shaving kits, 588 torches and lanterns, 367 SIM cards and 663 other items.
Why are joggers so important? We have a lot of new arrivals who have only the clothes they are wearing and that means they can’t take them off to wash them. So skin diseases like scabies are rife. Joggers are a lot easier to hand wash than jeans so they are practical, and if you do have scabies, soft clothes are good.
New underwear is crucial for comfort, dignity and health. With over 7,000 men in the camp we need a LOT of boxer shorts. Spray deodorant helps them feel better and a spray means they can share – sharing toiletries is common in the camp.
But this level of distribution is not something we can maintain. The camp is bigger than ever before and more people are arriving every day. Just giving one item to every person has stretched us to the max. Please please help. Without your support we can’t do what we do. Please donate now at www.care4calais.org