Calais: Medics struggle to cope with injured refugees

Chapel - image: screen shot

The death toll among refugees attempting to reach the UK from Calais has risen dramatically in recent days. Medical staff in France say they are struggling to cope with the number of seriously injured migrants who are taking ever greater risks to get into the Channel Tunnel.

More than 3,000 men, women and children who have fled war and persecution in Syria, Iraq, Eritrea, Sudan Ethiopia and Afghanistan are now crowded into a makeshift camp in Calais. Many of the migrants are sharing food and medicines. Some have set up shops or organised activities for the children. Christian migrants are now building a small chapel. Muslim refugees continue to pray and through Ramadan they fasted.

Four NGOs: Secours Catholique (Catholic Aid) , Secours Islamique Francais (French Islamic Aid) , Medecins du Monde (Doctors of the World), and Solidarite Internationale (International Solidarity), have now joined forces to launch an emergency humanitarian plan to assist these desperate people.

For an extended report from Alexandra Topping in Calais, writing for the Guardian, and a short film, see: www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2015/jul/29/calais-crisis-medics-struggle-to-cope-with-number-of-injured-migrants

Source: Guardian/Barbara Kentish, Westminister J&P