Neighbours in Poplar visit Calais refugee camps

Emdad Rahman

A TEAM OF volunteers from Neighbours in Poplar led by Sister Christine Frost have just returned after delivering essentials and participating in aid work to support migrant refugees in Calais.

The team visited France as part of a deployment to support the work of Brother Johannes Maertens at Maria Skobtsova House, where young and vulnerable refugees are sheltered and accommodated. The house provides more than 100 meals and showers a week and costs 2400-2600 euros a month to operate.

Brother Maertens said, “We are reflecting on moving our activities to a bigger location to accommodate our visitors. We offer emergency hospitality to those in need. We look at the most vulnerable and offer help. We also offer young and vulnerable refugees, on almost a daily basis, a shower, a meal, tea, and a chance to do their laundry. As we are serving more people than ever before we are using more of our resources than planned.”

The second port of call was to meet volunteers at Care 4 Calais, who then accompanied the team to the migrant day centre Secours Catholique-Caritas France, where the team mingled and engaged in an afternoon of art and recreational activities with migrant visitors.

There are currently around 1,000 refugees sleeping rough in Calais and Dunkirk; another 500 refugees in Brussels; and over 1,500 in Paris. These migrants have no access to even basic sanitation and many have not changed their clothes in weeks, leading to skin disease and similar problems.

The refugee crisis in Europe has been described by many as the biggest challenge of this generation. Since the closure of the Calais migrant camps (Calais Jungle), these refugees have no shelter at night or regular food supply, and their health is in shocking decline.

Sister Christine Frost, who led the deployment from Poplar, added, “We realise today how lucky we are. We spent our day with people who only have hope to keep them going. We are full of gratitude for what we have and determined to do more to make a difference in the lives of those who need us the most.”

Neighbours in Poplar thrives with a very small but dedicated staff team who support an array of volunteers. The project began in 1969 and the team provide multi-faith care in the community through practical support and care for the vulnerable – regardless of their faith, age, race, gender, culture, or disability.

•The demand for decent footwear is still overwhelming. Please help by purchasing a pair of waterproof walking boots for a refugee at:
https://goo.gl/jmkx7A 

•For more information about the organisations meant to above, go to:
www.neighboursinpoplar.com
www.care4calais.org
www.mariaskobtsova.org
www.secours-catholique.org/migrants

•Read more about it:
Neighbours in Poplar visit French refugee camp
Goodness gracious: great walls of… Calais?

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