What Was
Between January 2015 and October 2016, a refugee encampment was established around the French city of Calais, near the Channel Sea. The reason for this camp, resembling more of a shantytown, was first and foremost as a site for migrants waiting for their French or British asylum requests to be processed. As the encampment grew, so did its symbol, as the European immigration crisis grew alongside it. Drawing media attention worldwide, the French authorities decided to dismantle the camp, leaving migrants in ever more precarious conditions. The camp was completely demolished, including the formerly tolerated shipping containers that had been installed by local authorities to be used as shelters.
What Used To Be (and still is)
Many refugees remained in the area after the dismantling. While they are being chased by French forces constantly, most continue to attempt to cross the sea to enter the United Kingdom. Crossing the Channel is a dangerous experience. Whether on small boats or jumping on trucks’ roofs, many people tragically have their lives stopped there. In November 2021, 27 people drowned at once attempting this journey. In some cases, British and French coastguards postpone the rescue of these ships, making drownings that could have been avoided fatal. When authorities don’t fail at their rescuing duties, police units routinely confiscate migrants’ sleeping bags or tents, no matter how cold the Calais’ weather gets. A pattern of “predator-prey chase” rhythms the lives of thousands of migrants, including an estimated 300 unaccompanied child refugees. Overall, migrants around the so-called “Calais Jungle” are caught in an in-between zone, where going back is not an option, staying means a constant chase for survival, and attempting to cross equals a potential meeting with death.
What Is Now
With the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the situation around Calais is worsening. Following the arrival of Ukrainian refugees, the need for food, water, and warmth has increased, as have asylum demands on both the British and French sides. Moreover, French authorities have had a peculiar way of handling this developing situation, as since this crisis arose, they have organized shelters destined for Ukrainian refugees while they wait for their visas. This double-standard in welcoming refugees didn’t escape global attention, as prior to the Ukraine war, French authorities claimed that it was impossible to recreate shelter spaces. It is important to note that Ukrainian refugees do not enjoy ideal welcoming conditions either. Especially from the British side, the request for visas has been very slow and very unclear to most, leaving Ukrainians to wait in uncertainty longer than needed. Even the French Minister of Internal Affairs, notorious for usually leaning toward anti-immigration policies, has pressured British authorities to simplify asylum requests for refugees from Ukraine (while highlighting and reinforcing treatment differences between Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian asylum seekers). While being a refugee in the Calais Jungle is easy for no one, the arrival of Ukrainian refugees lowered the chances of other refugees seeing their visa requests accepted.
As the French presidential elections are coming up, this article is meant to raise awareness of the refugee crisis in France. As seen here, measures that were previously deemed “impossible” by French authorities are suddenly being put into place as Ukrainian refugees arrive. I call on any party that wins these elections to immediately stop the harassment of refugees across the country, as well as ensure that anyone, no matter where they come from or what they look like, will have the guarantee that their basic human rights will be protected. All refugees deserve to be treated humanely. Furthermore, actions by local organizations need to be widely supported; so far, they have been the ones compensating for the current power’s lack of humanity.
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