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I went to help at Calais’s Jungle refugee camp – and what I saw haunts me

theguardian.com

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Re: I went to help at Calais’s Jungle refugee camp – and what I saw haunts me

#2

Post by klunger »

This article skirts around the critical point that these are not actually refugees. They may have started their journey as a refugee, escaping some horrific conditions in their home country.

But then, they traveled through many European safe countries where they could (legally, should) have applied for asylum. And yet, they deliberately chose not to for whatever reason. Now that they are in Calais, they choose to stay there instead of applying for asylum in France. A refugee has no choice but to flee from where they are. These folk have had a choice for as long as their journey, and continue to do so as long as they are in France.

Side note: I do volunteer work for Syrian refugee children. There is a serious refugee problem in Europe, but this is not one of them. The UN quite rightly does not spend its limited resources here.

Re: I went to help at Calais’s Jungle refugee camp – and what I saw haunts me

#3

Post by zzalpha »

klunger wrote: post #2

This article skirts around the critical point that these are not actually refugees. They may have started their journey as a refugee, escaping some horrific conditions in their home country. But then, they traveled through many European safe countries where they could (legally, should) have applied for asylum. And yet, they deliberately chose not to for whatever reason. Now that they are in Calais, they choose to sta…

Wait wait wait.

So are you saying these people deserve it and that the government is right to allow these folks to freeze and starve?

I just want to be clear on your position, here. Because, to be blunt, on its face it seems pretty monstrous.

Re: I went to help at Calais’s Jungle refugee camp – and what I saw haunts me

#4

Post by nobody_nowhere »

klunger wrote: post #2

This article skirts around the critical point that these are not actually refugees. They may have started their journey as a refugee, escaping some horrific conditions in their home country. But then, they traveled through many European safe countries where they could (legally, should) have applied for asylum. And yet, they deliberately chose not to for whatever reason. Now that they are in Calais, they choose to sta…

How does failing to apply for asylum make them no longer refugees? What do they become by your reasoning?

Re: I went to help at Calais’s Jungle refugee camp – and what I saw haunts me

#5

Post by ptaffs »

klunger wrote: post #2

This article skirts around the critical point that these are not actually refugees. They may have started their journey as a refugee, escaping some horrific conditions in their home country. But then, they traveled through many European safe countries where they could (legally, should) have applied for asylum. And yet, they deliberately chose not to for whatever reason. Now that they are in Calais, they choose to sta…

Your response sounds super unsympathetic, but your side note hints at some actual understanding of the situation. Briefly, what should be happening?

Re: I went to help at Calais’s Jungle refugee camp – and what I saw haunts me

#6

Post by [deleted] »

zzalpha wrote: post #3
klunger wrote: post #2

This article skirts around the critical point that these are not actually refugees. They may have started their journey as a refugee, escaping some horrific conditions in their home country. But then, they traveled through many European safe countries where they could (legally, should) have applied for asylum. And yet, they deliberately chose not to for whatever reason. Now that they are in Calais, they choose to sta…

Wait wait wait. So are you saying these people deserve it and that the government is right to allow these folks to freeze and starve? I just want to be clear on your position, here. Because, to be blunt, on its face it seems pretty monstrous.

[deleted]

Re: I went to help at Calais’s Jungle refugee camp – and what I saw haunts me

#7

Post by lumberjack »

It's not a refugee camp. Refugees go through the system fairly quickly and get all sorts of help. They definitely are not left destitute.

And I really don't see what's so special about them compared to people in similar conditions in India or Uganda or some other poor region of the world.

Re: I went to help at Calais’s Jungle refugee camp – and what I saw haunts me

#8

Post by kzhahou »

zzalpha wrote: post #3
klunger wrote: post #2

This article skirts around the critical point that these are not actually refugees. They may have started their journey as a refugee, escaping some horrific conditions in their home country. But then, they traveled through many European safe countries where they could (legally, should) have applied for asylum. And yet, they deliberately chose not to for whatever reason. Now that they are in Calais, they choose to sta…

Wait wait wait. So are you saying these people deserve it and that the government is right to allow these folks to freeze and starve? I just want to be clear on your position, here. Because, to be blunt, on its face it seems pretty monstrous.

He said there are resources available to help, but for whatever reason these people don't use them. Monstrous?
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