At the end of August, Care4Calais did its usual distribution in the mainly Eritrean settlement known as “the BMX site” (Police clear site where victims of Channel tragedy are said to have lived, 4 September). Our endeavours to support the community with a distribution of blankets, English lessons, games, facilitating haircuts and phone charging were, however, hampered as the police had placed huge boulders on the site as well as clearing tents. It is likely that these actions by the French state, funded partly by the British, hastened a decision to attempt a crossing.
The people we support in this settlement come from a nation that has been called the “North Korea of Africa”. When they claim asylum in the UK, Eritreans have a very high success rate – 99% in 2023.
In other words, if legal and safe routes were established, the 12 people we were supporting last week – 10 female, six children, one pregnant woman – would still be alive today. Instead, our government is obsessed with detaining and returning people.
Lesley Hare and Simon Shaw
London
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