Calais: hunger strike to warn about violence against migrants
French police evacuate 800 migrants after the dismantling of a camp near a hospital in Calais, September 29, 2020. AFP - BERNARD BARRON
Text by: RFI Follow
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Revolted by the situation of migrants which does not change, three activists have started a hunger strike.
They haven't eaten for a week.
They are calling for an end to evacuations from refugee camps.
As well as the opening of a dialogue with the authorities.
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Evacuation of camps, confiscation of tents and personal belongings of refugees ... These are scenes that have become habitual in Calais, almost daily for several weeks.
It is to denounce this situation and challenge the population that Anaïs Vogel, Ludovic Holbain and Philippe Demeestère, a 72-year-old Jesuit priest, have started a hunger strike.
They have been living in seclusion for seven days in a church in the heart of Calais.
"
For three weeks, indeed, there has been an exacerbation of this violence with evictions from camps which are taking place at an even more sustained rate
"
,
denounces Juliette Delaplace, in charge of mission with exiled people for the Catholic Help.
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See also: France: HRW denounces the “degrading treatment” of migrants in Calais
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People live in extreme poverty
"
“
On September 28,”
she continues, “
it was a day of incredible violence with the death of Yasser Abdallah, a young man of 20, who lost his life while trying to reach England where his uncle lived and his aunt.
The same day, the largest living space where people in exile in Calais lived, nearly 1,000 people living in this space, was expelled.
And therefore people live in very great poverty.
"
A support action was held this Sunday, October 17.
In the hands of the demonstrators, kites made with the tents of exiled people, often destroyed by the police after the evacuations.
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To listen: From Turkey to Calais, Europe is closing its borders
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