Just under two weeks ago, on the 24th of November, a boat capsized in the English Channel. The boat was carrying 33 people, including small children and pregnant women. Of the 33 people onboard, 27 people have lost their lives and just 2 have survived. The remaining 4 people have yet to be found and presumed dead.
Reports from the two survivors have stated that both the British and French coastguards had been made aware, however, rejected the call for help and tried to pass the responsibility onto the other.
The responsibility of this awful tragedy and these deaths falls entirely upon the shoulders of the British and French governments. Had safe legal routes to the UK existed, this tragedy would never have happened.
Needless to say, this loss of life has had a huge impact on both refugee and volunteer communities alike.
Since then, there have been two major evictions of the camp in Dunkirk in which tents and shelters have been demolished and people have had personal belongings confiscated or destroyed by the French authorities.
During this difficult time, our team have been more present than ever, distributing essential items on a daily basis and providing our standard range of static services such as charging and Wi-Fi. This week alone we have distributed over 150 tents and over 300 sleeping bags.
With winter now upon us and average temperatures of 1-5 degrees both during the day and at night, conditions are truly unbearable for those living rough.
We need your help now more than ever to enable us to continue to support this community.
If you are able to donate, please do so via the link below.
If you would like to volunteer, please do not hesitate to get in contact.
Please share this post to increase awareness of what is happening at our border. Speak up against this inhumane policies and oppose Priti Patel’s callous Nationality and Borders Bill.
This is not the nation we want to be.
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Below is a link to the first interview with one of the two survivors.
Content warning: this interview is both harrowing and disturbing to watch.
