Migrant evictions – March update
Nothing happened overnight. It was tense but quiet. We have heard from a journalist that the French Embassy says that something is in progress to put migrants in containment centres, but they are not ready yet. The prefecture in Dunkirk is tweeting that the migrants are going to go into centres, but that it will be voluntarily. It could be an excuse. If the migrants move voluntarily and the authorities then cut down on food and stop showers they can’t be criticised, or if it’s voluntary and the refugees don’t go, the authorities can say: “No-one can say we are …
Online crochet workshops offer a lesson in human empathy
Charlie Pearson visited refugee camps in Calais in 2016, and returned again in January this year. She has now launched a new project to crochet hats not just for the benefit of the people who will wear them, but for the wellbeing of those who are stuck in isolation because of the coronavirus. She has even roped in her grandparents – both in their 80s and in self-isolation – to make pompoms! After the first visit she raised £1800 for refugees charities, but also realised there was a need to help people at home make a connection with the refugees. …
Concerns over refugees being moved to containment centres
We’ve heard today that refugees in Calais and Dunkirk will be moved to ‘containment centres’ somewhere in Pas de Calais region – possibly as soon as Friday. Although there is a clear and very urgent need for improved living conditions, this announcement raises some serious concerns: Will the move be forcible or will people be given a choice? Without the independent oversight of charities and associations how will people’s rights be protected and their safety ensured? When the Calais camp was cleared in Oct 2016 the operation was put together quickly and some of the places people were sent to were …
