Voices Of Calais: Real Refugee Stories

A convoy of 54 Irish volunteers travelled to Calais this week, via ferry, laden with donations and building equipment that has been gathered by the people of Ireland. They are working in donation warehouses, and on the ground in the camp itself, as much as they physically can in the 5 days that they are there. They are working to build shelters, homes, tend to medical needs and distribute food and clothing. As they meet the people of The Jungle, they are listening to their stories of struggle, fear, and hope. Now they are sharing those stories exclusively with us. You can find more on their blog HERE and via Facebook HERE. The Calais jungle is the nickname given to a series of camps in the vicinity of Calais, France, where migrants live while they attempt to enter the United Kingdom by stowing away on lorries, ferries, cars, or trains travelling through the Port of Calais or the Eurotunnel Calais Terminal. The migrants are a mix of refugees, asylum seekers and economic migrants from Darfur, Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, Eritrea and other troubled areas of the world. ____________________________________________

First Hand Stories From The Jungle

Waseem, 35, Syria. I left my wife and two children in Syria and I want to come to the UK because it has the shortest reunification period – I think it is seven or eight months. I think in Germany it’s 18 months – has this changed, do you know? I worked in telecommunications in Syria, we had a good life. I think maybe I should try and go home. I have seen many refugee camps on my way here and this is the worst. This is a bad place. I cannot believe it, no water, no place to have a shower, no sanitation, rubbish everywhere. So many people from so many places. I came here last night and I have only slept for four hours in the last five days. I think I need twelve hours sleep, but if you need me to translate for you I will walk you to the gate. It is no trouble – you are a young woman and I will walk with you. I wish I never came here. We had enough at home, I had my family. Maybe we had enough? Why did I come here, this seems worse. At least in Syria I had my family. Idris, 39, Iran.  I was living the UK for 8 years. I went home to Iran to visit my family. When I was returning, I was in the queue at the airport. I became angry and I started talking to the men around me – I was saying ‘the people in these countries (Iran) they are dictators’. We were all talking, we were all arguing – I was loud.  I didn’t realise the person standing behind me was security. He heard me, and I was arrested. They made me sign a form. I was tortured and that is why I signed the form. My ear, you see? You see? This is what they did. Look, my knee as well, you can’t see it, but it doesn’t work. They then ties a weight on a hook to my penis. I signed the form. I was in prison for three years. Afterwards, I tried to go back to England and when I got to the airport they said I had been gone for more than six months and I could no longer enter the UK. Now I am in Calais. I have my NHS card, my PPS number, I even had a residency permit but it was no good to me. Now I am in Calais. Saadi, 32, Syria I am from Syria. It is not safe there and I had to leave. I came here by boat, train and walking. I am sick. I have pneumonia and the Ireland medical team gave me antibiotics. I am not strong enough to go the tunnels at night. I have been sick since I got here 20 days ago. My friend went to the tunnels on Friday. He didn’t make it back it – he’s dead… The train got him and now I am alone. I need to get strong and make it the tunnels, it’s my only chance at freedom.  Are you married? Have a home? Children? That is all I want. All I want is the freedom that you have and the safety that you have. I cannot go home. Thank you for coming here to help us.