This week we did something we haven’t done for a long time
This week we did something we haven’t done for a long time in Calais. We distributed cooking food packs, then we sat with people while they cooked on open fires and sat round and ate. It was like going back in time.
For the last two years the aggressive campaign mounted by the French authorities has meant that few have been able to do anything as normal as cook their own food; decide how, what and when they are going to eat. Every time tents or tarpaulins are put up the police rip them down. If people try to settle they are violently moved on.
But on Monday night there was a group of tents that had not been moved on in a while. We decided to take a chance. We made up boxes like we used to in the old ‘jungle’ with oil and tuna and tomatoes and rice. We went down with some pans and music and sat with people as they cooked and ate over open fires. Who would think that something so simple could be so nice? A tiny bit of control over your life that is usually denied.
I will be even more sad than usual to see this small ‘camp’ ripped down.
To volunteer or donate go to www.care4calais.org
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