Fire at 'The Jungle' in Calais

Flimsy tents at 'The Jungle'

A fire broke out at 'The Jungle' refugee camp in Calais yesterday morning. No one has been been seriously injured but 70 tents were destroyed.

Phil Kerton, from the Kent-based charity Seeking Sanctuary sends this report:

A fire broke out amonst closely crowded tents in the 'Sudanese quarter' at around 00.45am this morning. The cause of the fire appears to be people drifting off to sleep leaving a candle alight. Fire spread quickly due to the wind and people were running around trying to evacuate the area and get people to safety. No major injuries, a few small burns and smoke inhalation problems but no major injuries or deaths. Lots of people's documents and papers were burnt and destroyed. The fire burnt and spread for around half an hour before fire engines arrived. Apparently the police were on hand trying to put the fire out with their water cannon. (Based on reports from people who were there). About 70 tents were destroyed

Many people have nowhere of their own to sleep and no blankets, there is a very urgent need for humanitarian aid to Calais as everything relevant that was in the Auberge de Migrants warehouse has been distributed already. It is very cold at night and impossible to sleep without shelter and blankets.Most of all people need to be in proper housing not in that appalling shanty town. Volunteer aid workers spent up to 40 hours working on-stop on clearance, moving on to erect replacement dwellings.

About 'Seeking Sanctuary'.

There are currently well over 5000 migrants in Calais (October 2015) and more nearby. 'Seeking Sanctuary' aims to raise awareness about this situation and is organising basic humanitarian assistance through Faith Communities and Community Organisations in partnership with experienced aid agencies such as 'Secours Catholique'.

For further information on how you or your organisation can help, contact Ben Bano 0n 07887 651117 or Phil Kerton on 01474 873802. To check the latest news, visit our website on www.seekingsanctuary.weebly.com.