Help a refugee child in Calais

Image: Refugee Community Kitchen Calais

The 'Jungle' at Calais was demolished by the authorities in October last year. But many refugees were not offered any support and over the past few months more asylum seekers have been living rough around the area. Most of them are young people who have lost connection with family or friends.

Maria Skobotsova Catholic Worker House in Calais, supported by Westminster Diocesan Trust offers emergency hospitality to young and vulnerable refugees in the Calais area and Justice and Peace have visited several times in the past.

Brother Johannes Maertens writes: "Next to accommodation we offer also on almost a daily base to young and vulnerable refugees a shower, a meal, tea, do their laundry and we offer them to spend some time in a house. Through the offer of this basic help we can accompany more than 10 unaccompanied minors under 16 and many other young refugees. As we are serving more people than ever before we are using more of our resources than planned.

"This is an unresolved situation: in September and October 2016, with the imminent closure of the Calais Jungle, the UK government agreed to admit those unaccompanied minors who would otherwise be left stranded. Quickly after the closure, the UK withdrew its promise, and numbers of young people have been drifting back to the city with even less support than before. Humanitarian charities are trying to feed and shelter them, against a firm determination of the authorities not to allow a build up of the camp as before. So Maria Skobstova House is welcoming as many youngsters as possible, either by giving them accommodation or welcoming them daily into the house giving showers, clothes food and simply a place to be off the streets.

The humanitarian agencies such as Secours Catholique and Auberge des Migrants are meanwhile in constant discussion with the authorities about the right to give out humanitarian aid. Our contributions will be more than welcome to help the youngsters in their daily battle for survival."

If you would like to make a donation please see: www.justgiving.com/campaigns/charity/rcdiocese-westminster/helpacalaisminor2

(this is a new appeal - the first one has ended now)