Six NGOs urge France to undo Calais food ban

We were delighted to see this letter from six international organisations urging the French government to reverse its inhumane ban on food and drink distributions in Calais. We agree that the ban is a far cry from a humanitarian response to the already horrible living situation of hundreds of vulnerable people.

Yesterday Calais became the only city in the whole of France where distributing food and drink is illegal in the town centre. This policy was implemented with no warning whatsoever and is a clear act of hostility against the refugees who rely on charities like ours to survive. From what we witness every single day, the food provided by the French state is never enough to feed everyone there. Our help has always been essential.

This dehumanising treatment of refugees in Calais needs to end. They are already subjected to near daily evictions by police who confiscate everything they own. We cannot possibly keep them away from nearby sources of food and water too. With people in the town already worried and scared, we now fear tensions will only get worse.

Huge thanks to our friends from Amnesty International France, Médecins Sans Frontières, La Cimade, Médecins du Monde France, Secours Catholique – Caritas France and Fédération des acteurs de la solidarité for their letter. Read it here: tinyurl.com/EndCalaisBan

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