Naz’s Story

Written by a brilliant returning volunteer, Sophie:

This is Naz, one of 8 children and their families we visited yesterday during our roving patrol in Dunkirk. They are sleeping in an abandoned grain store in a field, found for them the day before but they only have until Wednesday to stay there and then they must leave. But there is nowhere for them to go.

Since the fire and subsequent closing of the Dunkirk camp, refugees have two choices: agree to go to a CAO where they have 30days to choose asylum in France or go home OR stay in Calais/Dunkirk and sleep in fields and forests where they risk facing police violence and many other problems.

Naz had a sore under her nappy. Her sister had a skin infection across her back. Their aunt had over 20 cold sores on her mouth. We met a man with concussion and another with damaged ribs. Both had been attacked by police. We met a group who had to throw away all of their food and sleeping bags because police had sprayed them with tear gas as they slept.

The systematic closing of refugee camps does not ‘solve’ anything. It puts people at risk, it makes the coordination of aid almost impossible, it splits up families, it puts minors in dangerous situations and it puts refugees in a position where they are pushed to breaking point.

They are human beings and they are being treated in the most dreadful way. We desperately need donations and funding to continue our vital work on the frontline of the refugee crisis. Please spare what you can: https://care4calais.org/