Refugee first aid team
As a lot of you know, we, a first-aid team from all over the world but based in the UK, provided first-aid to refugees in need in Calais, France during the times of 'the Jungle'.
Since the evacuation of Calais, hundreds,if not thousands are still around in Calais, Dunkirk and Brussels, many with small babies, as well as unaccompanied minors.
With people arriving every day, in bushes and under bridges in inhumane conditions.
We are still providing first aid to those in need, but the donations are very low. The generosity of donations in the past is not forgotten & massively appreciated.
We try to have a team on the ground every week, with different people (first aiders, doctors and nurses). Your donations will be stored at Care4Calais, where we have a medical container. All medics in our group can access this container and use the donations they need at that moment. We also provide first-aid back-packs to other volunteer-organisations in Calais.
Any donation, however small, to help fund our work would be greatly appreciated again!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
From your donations we buy medical supplies such as:
Rehydration sachets
Strepsils or throat lozenges
Anti-histamines
Gaviscon or antacids (tabs ---easier to distribute)
Cough syrups (non alcoholic & non drowsy)
Athelete's foot or Any anti fungal
Anti Itch eye drops (hay fever eye drops)
Gloves
Dettol/Betadine or antiseptic skin preps
Vaseline or Petroleum jellies
Ear drops/otomize spray for simmers ear
For the refugees in Calais, Dunkirk and Brussels there is no first aid at all and that is why volunteers are taking that task at the moment. Please do not forgot the people in this horrible situation!
Q: What is the Calais Refugee First Aid Team?
A: A FRIENDLY collective of UK & The Netherlands based health professionals & support staff coordinating shifts for personnel from healthcare background, across different locations on a short to long term volunteer basis. We are not an organization, but a group of volunteers, with aims similar to yours and thus unable to provide assistance with indemnity cover.
Q: What is the situation now?
A:Jungle was demolished and most of refugees were dispersed in different CAOs throughout the France. Dunkirk Camp burnt down in April 17 and there are now no official camps in France at all.
Refugees who returned to Calais or didn’t opt to go are forced to live rough in forests, bushes and hidden away squats. Some locals also host some refugee families. Though most of refugees are male but there is sizeable number of families. Age rage of 2yrs to 40yrs (rough avg age estimate in teens).
French authorities remain hostile not only towards refugees but lately this harassment has started to include volunteers including random documents checks and irrelevant discussions/arguments, intimidating behaviour, disrupting food distribution. Though this is limited to intimidation only, refugees are frequently arrested.
It is not uncommon to come across somebody stuck in the place for years and still retaining some hope for a better life. Most of refugees (who are unable to afford anything) are not even allowed to sleep in parking lots as allegedly smugglers claim to OWN parking lots making people more prominent for police brutality. We have been told that current smugglers rate crossing the channel is 10,000 British Pounds forcing individuals to hold a family member as ransom thus adding to the pressure and falling in hands of such people. People with either no alive family members or a large family travelling seems to be stuck in middle of nowhere.
