Winter coats urgently needed in Calais
When I tell friends and family that I’ve been volunteering in Calais, they always ask me why? They don’t understand. They think refugees just stroll into Calais, and hop into boats to cross the Channel, so what’s the need? Well, let me tell you about the need. There are about 2,000 refugees in northern France, and many of them wait for weeks, months, even years before they can reach safety in the UK. Where do you think all those people live? They live in underpasses, roundabouts, industrial estates and any land they can find. They are constantly being moved …
Home Office gives pregnant refugee Rwanda letter
Delina, a Eritrean refugee who fled to the UK, is 37 weeks pregnant. Despite this the UK Home Office is, shockingly, trying to force her onto a plane so they can deport her to Rwanda. The Home Office has previously said that it would not send pregnant women to Rwanda under its new scheme. However, we have seen paperwork that shows they knew Delina was pregnant, but still served her with a letter saying she would sent to Rwanda. This is an incredibly brutal example of the carelessness of the Rwanda plan, and the horrific human suffering that it causes. …
Naji and Ali’s story
Today I got talking to two friends called Naji (on the left) and Ali. Naji had a bike that he used to get around on, Ali walked with a crutch because he has a damaged leg. “It was when he was trying to get into a truck,” Naji explained for him. “He fell into the road, and was hit by a car.” Ali had basic medical treatment for the injury but it was clear he was still in pain. Naji helps to look after him now. They left Sudan together, and have travelled all this way in each other’s …
How we help newly-arrived young refugees”
In the last few days our Emergency Response Team have been incredibly busy welcoming newly-arrived refugees on the South Coast. Last week we welcomed 180 people on four boats from countries including Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Iraq, Chad and Albania. Among them have been dozens of families with young children – and some unaccompanied children too. We’re always so relieved to see that they have arrived safely. We gave out blankets, sliders and socks, joggers, underwear, T-shirts, hoodies, hats, biscuits, water, kids clothes and shoes and nappies, and you could see people were so happy to receive them after their …
An amazing effort for #StopRwanda
Massive congratulations to @john bourbon who, at 70 years old, completed the York 10k today – despite injuries – while promoting our #StopRwanda campaign. With that kind of spirit we really are unstoppable! John and wife Sally have volunteered in Calais multiple times and are staunch advocates for refugees rights. Never has their support been more needed. In just four weeks we will be back in court to fight against the reprehensible Rwanda policy, which the government seems more determined than ever to push through. Innocent refugees, having escaped unimaginable horrors, will face the further horror of detention and deportation …
Proud to support #StopRwanda!
We were so proud (pun intended!) to see our fabulous volunteers and supporters at Bristol Pride earlier this month, flying the flag for our #StopRwanda campaign. Our volunteer Camilla said, ‘It felt like everyone on the parade was supporting us. Everyone posing with the sign said how glad they were that Care4Calais were doing something about the horrific Rwanda plan.’ Risk of violence and persecution because of their identity, is one of many reasons people flee their homes in search of safety. LGBTQI+ refugees face particular challenges. We need to make sure they are not forgotten, and that they have …
Supporting #StopRwanda in Calais
This #StopRwanda sign was sent to us by a refugee in Calais. Its simplicity is incredibly moving – and a reminder that the refugees who will be affected by this barbaric Rwanda plan are only seeking safety. We’re receiving pictures from places all around the world now, the sheer numbers of people showing the sheer scale of opposition to the UK Government’s callous scheme. People everywhere are united in demanding that the flights are stopped and the whole idea replaced with a plan for refugees that is sensible and humane. It was great news that our court case against …
Rwanda Case Adjourned
Breaking: Rwanda case adjourned Good news! We are pleased to report that the Divisional Court has granted our application for an adjournment of the Rwanda case until September. However the Government has refused to rule out flights in the interim, before the lawfulness of the policy is determined by the courts. We are currently working with more than 20 people who have been detained and issued with Rwanda notices since the last court case, and many of those from before remain detained, exhausted and alone, and terrified for what the future might bring. They have suffered some of the very …
Seven refugees face traumatic deportation
We urgently need to stop this brutal policy that will harm many innocent people. To find out how you can help, go to care4calais.org/stop-rwanda/ At the time of writing, 10.15am on Tuesday morning, there are seven refugees booked on today’s flight to Rwanda. At least five of them have indicators of being trafficked and/or tortured. Yesterday in the Court of Appeal we heard that the United Nations High Commission for Refugees unequivocally believes the UK Government’s Rwanda policy to be unlawful. We also heard that they do not believe Rwanda has the capacity to give people a fair hearing …
Zoran’s story
When Zoran was a young boy growing up in Iran, his mum and dad were murdered by the government for their political views. His grandfather raised him in a small, remote village where Zoran got no schooling. Bring Kurdish, Zoran was part of a persecuted minority with little chance of a job. His parents’ deaths marked the start of years of unhappiness and depression for Zoran, and being isolated and persecuted in the village only made things worse. He knew he had to escape. Aged just 16 he left home to search for a safe future with the chance …