The Jungle
Cal ai s Re fu ge e Cam p The J ungle
A n I n si g h t By L u k e J o hn s t on
November, 2015 Calais accounts for as little as 1% of the refugees who have arrived in Europe this year. Most of those living within ‘the jungle’ have travelled for months in the desperate hope to reach the UK. Fleeing from war torn countries, dictatorial oppression, and religious extremism they are finally left with the threatening challenge of crossing the English Channel. More than 700,000 people have reached Europe’s Mediterranean shores so far this year, during the worst refugee crisis since World War II.
Mulham Abufaisal, an agricultural engineer from Syria, has spent three weeks in the Calais jungle camp. Passing monotonous hours into the evening he uses a second hand phone in an attempt to contact his family.
“I want to go to England very much, we try every night, it is dangerous and makes us very tired. I keep my heart strong� - Mulham
Reaching the outskirts of the Eurotunnel takes over two hours, in wet and deteriorating shoes, the walk is tough. “Take the field, quickly, we can’t walk on the road!” The overwhelming police presence causes a very tense atmosphere, sliding into boggy ditches to keep out of sight is a frequent setback.
A huge security operation was organised late October 2015, bringing additional measures such as infra-red detectors, dog units, and reinforced fencing.
The new fine wire fencing stands 10-16ft tall, often topped with barbed wire it is one of the most challenging obstacles, it takes knowledge from previous attempts to find a less hazardous route.
Attempts to breach the terminal peaked in August 2015 with over 1,500 people striving to reach England per night, due to the increased security this number has since dropped to a few dozen.
“See you in England brother, inshallah” - Mulham
November, 2015
Three miles from the centre of Calais located upon a former landfill site ‘the jungle’ is home to 6,000 desperate people. From the well-kept, fenced off houses on the edge of town there is a devastating view into the overwhelming refugee crisis. Risking their lives daily and surviving on charity hand-outs they fear the coming winter. “You’d be prosecuted for keeping dogs in these conditions” said a volunteer.
“There is nowhere clean to cook, I wish to live a respectable life, but the jungle robs me of dignity and pride� - Abdul
“The police on the tracks stopped us. They said there is no point, don’t come back tomorrow. They keep us for hours, they bring us back to the jungle and sometimes they arrest us for many days. My hope for England breaks every day, the thoughts of my family hurt me, I will keep fighting for them”
Although the rain is a further miserable hindrance to the current conditions, Mulham comments on the peaceful sound made by the rain hitting the thin linings of the tent.
Re-using polystyrene cups Abo Ahmad passes around scolding hot tea to his friends. In the very early hours that morning they found themselves back at the jungle having failed to make the crossing.
Abo Ahmad Hsen, a pharmacist from Syria, made the journey to Calais with Mulham. “We are friends for life, we have shared the bad and good together, even when it is very bad. I won’t go to England without him.”
Inside an Orthodox Ethiopian church, known to some as St Michaels, Dawit finishes the border of his painting. By using donated materials such as, grey canvas, wood and corrugated iron; the community were resourcefully able to build a place of worship. The church provides people with the space to pray, bringing some short-lived relief to those within the camp.
“We have all lost someone” - Shabnam, Iran.
Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem.
Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque consectetur, adipisci velit, os qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt.
A charity-funded generator allows many to recharge their phones, for most this is their only way of contacting families back home. An afghan man (right) reaching out for phone signal says he has been unable to contact his family for over a week, “I fear they are scared for my life, I can not tell them I am okay�.
Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque consectetur, adipisci velit.
Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque consectetur, adipisci velit.
Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia conseWvquuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque consectetur, adipisci velit.
Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque consectetur, adipisci velit, os qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt.
“We have never lived like this before. We feel we are dying slowly.�
Cal ai s Re fu ge e Cam p The J ungle
Š Luke Johnston 2015