Helping families in Dunkirk

After three weeks of constant relocation around Dunkerque and across France around 150 people have come back to rest in a large grassy area bordered by the busy A16 and some forest, surprisingly close to La Liniere, the first official camp in Dunkirk.

We visited this make shift camp this week with supplies and the generator so people could charge their phones. A large crowd soon gathered around this precious resource and people seemed happy to wait their turn. Drones flew overhead and officials walked through the camp but the police were strangely absent giving it a pleasant atmosphere.

As we sat in the field chatting to various people the field opposite was filling up, two families of six arrived and at least six other groups had begun to occupy spaces in the previously empty field. We were able to give the two families tents and sleeping bags but unfortunately had already distributed most of our supplies to other small camps. People walk back to the camps from wherever they have been taken with very little so the desperation for tents and blankets is huge. What father anywhere does not want to provide for his family?

The state has supplied land, water and a dumpster but little else. I won’t be surprised if they are moved on again in the coming week. But many of these people don’t trust the French authorities and will forever be back. You can help them with their daily struggle here https://goo.gl/jmkx7A