Echoes of the 1930s: A warning from Calais

by Maz Saleem

We must stand up in solidarity with refugees and migrants argues Maz Saleem.

We are facing the biggest refugee crisis since the Second World War. Several million people are fleeing war and persecution. More than one million reached Europe in 2015. Yet our government remains brutally cold, callous and racist in its response.

I witnessed the refugee crisis within Syria first-hand when I volunteered with Unite4Humanity. We went to camps where tens of thousands of Syrians had fled fighting around Aleppo and made their way to the Turkish border to the Bab al – Salaam camp we also visited the camps on the Turkey borders – Kilis camps in December 2013. I saw thousands of widows and orphans in refugee camps living in absolutely squalid conditions. Sadly I had expected to see such inhumane conditions in Aleppo. I was shocked to see the self-same conditions in the Calais refugee camps, where I stayed over for short periods to build relationships with our brothers and sisters in the camp.

In Calais, some 5,000 people are living in squalid conditions. They are mostly men, but also include women, young children and some with serious medical requirements. Most are asylum seekers. More arrive each day, having survived traumatic journeys of thousands of miles, fleeing the devastation, perils and trauma of their lives in Syria, Iraq Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Libya. Many arrive desperately hungry, in need of urgent medical attention and without basic necessities such as warm clothing or even shoes.

In the past week the French authorities have begun inhumane evictions. According to Care4Calais, an NGO run by Clare Moseley: “The French authorities started at 7am going door to door, telling the refugees they have one hour to leave their house or it will be destroyed and that they will be arrested”.

[More…]

Philosophers stone – selected views from the boat http://philosophers-stone.co.uk