Four of us from Magis organisation in Paris have been to Calais, in the north of France, to serve people in exile, from July 28 to August 11. We were welcomed by Fr. Philippe Demeestère sj, who lives there with people who seek asylum in France.

We have tried to listen and serve them, in particular by joining the volunteers of the catholic “Caritas” charity.

What is most striking is the misery in which those who reach Calais live in.

When people reach Calais, the first thing they need is tents distributed by the charities (so as not to sleep outside) and to join a camp. Charities are not allowed to come and distribute food or set up toilets or showers. On site, garbage is not picked up; it piles up. Associations must therefore offer these services remotely.

The camps are regularly dismantled by the police, most often simply moved a few tens of meters further. The meagre belongings of asylum seekers who are not there at that moment are confiscated, and they must go to a remote place to get them back.

In the morning, we visited camps to build ties with the people in exile. They always welcomed us with great dignity and joy, around a coffee on improvised campfires. We gave useful information to newcomers; we also collected 100 to 150 garbage bags of waste each day.

In the afternoon, we would go to the day welcome centre of the Caritas charity, a haven of peace which welcomes between 300 and 350 people so they can shower with cold water, charge their cell phone, cut their hair, play football, learn French or English, think about the dangers of crossing the Channel to go to England,  how to ask for asylum or how minors are welcomed – about one quarter of people in exile here are minors – in France and the United Kingdom…

By helping in this way, we have forged many bonds of trust. And quickly, people dare to speak and say how terrible exile can be – slavery and mistreatments, the danger of crossings by boat, the hope of a land of refuge for a better life, wanderings that sometimes last for years... Moments of simple humanity, which can do little, but which remind us what really matters – we are brothers and sisters.

Will we one day be able to welcome these men and women with dignity?

Jacques Enjalbert sj