Calais: Jesuit priest on hunger strike over treatment of destitute migrants

Fr Philippe (right) with Ludovic and Anaïs

Source: Seeking Sanctuary

A Jesuit priest is staging a hunger strike in Calais with two others, to protest "the unbearable harassment" suffered by destitute migrants and refugees.

Father Philippe Demeestère, chaplain of the Catholic Help for Pas-de-Calais, aged 72, accompanied by Anaïs Vogel, 35, and Ludovic Holbein, 38, will be entering the third week of their protest in the Saint-Pierre church on Monday.

The strikers have three demands: an end to the dismantling of migrant camps during the winter period, an end to the confiscation of tents and personal effects of migrants and authorisation for voluntary associations to distribute humanitarian aid.

On Monday, migrant aid associations denounced the "systematic theft" of migrants' belongings during the brutal evictions from camps by the authorities.

On Friday, they appealed for the authorities to return confiscated items (such as clothing and blankets) to charities assisting the migrants - so they could be sorted, dried and returned to their owners. Volunteers giving food to destitute migrants have also been harassed by local authorities. Calling for this to stop, one said: "There is no room for discussion when someone is freezing to death, in the rain, has no access to food or anything else."

Ben Bano, Co-Director of Seeking Sanctuary commented: "Its people like Pere Philippe who show us the path of true solidarity and humanity. At a time when two more tragic deaths have been reported recently, let's remember this act of true Christian solidarity and let us hope it bears fruit."

LINKS

A petition has been set up in support of the hunger strikers' appeal. See: www.change.org/p/emmanuelmacron-grève-de-la-faim-à-calais-arrêt-de-la-maltraitance-des-personnes-exilées-faimauxfrontieres

Seeking Sanctuary - www.seekingsanctuary.weebly.com