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 The Sangatte shelter run by the Red Cross was
formerly supposed to host Kosovan refugees but during the last two years, more
and more asylum seekers have been attracted by the link between England and
France. As a result of the current influx of refugees, the shelter is now
totally overcrowded and the population has increased from 1,000 residents to 2,600.
How do the locals of Sangatte feel towards their new
neighbors?
- Monsieur Veillard noticed a 10 % loss of trade at his hotel; he definitely
doesn't share any sympathy for the refugees.
- Monsieur Denever has lost a lot of his former clients due to the tide of
Middle Eastern customers, therefore he adapted to their needs and sells now
phone cards, loo rolls, he even acts as a 'bureau de change'.
- Madame Marie Catherine Torovel who once cared for the Kosovan refugees
says that it is impossible not to feel sorry for the families who have
struggled so far but in the very next breath she states that Sangatte
certainly is the wrong place for such a refugee camp.
Conclusion: At the beginning,
Sangatte's locals took well to their Kosovan neighbors but meanwhile, the
inhabitants have formed a residents group that wants the shelter closed.
Throughout the last two years, a general feeling of opposition has developed
towards the refugees in town.
What is the refugees' point of view?
- Ali, 34, for instance has left his home country Iraq because of the
political situation; referring to him, it is impossible to live there as a Kurd. He would basically do anything to start a new life in England: He's
already spent 8000 € so far and he is willing to buy fake papers if
necessary.
- Tarek, 20, would risk anything as well since his family in Afghanistan
sold all of his possessions to make his journey possible; they essentially
invested in him. For him, it is clear that he will neither stay longer than
necessary in the shelter where the living conditions are not bearable nor
will he return home. Therefore, his next attempt will be to cross the
Channel by ferry as he failed entering the well-guarded tunnel.
- Aman Azizi, 24, from Afghanistan as well, claims that it is the
government's duty to prevent the immigrants from crossing the Channel and
the immigrants' duty to try it again.
- In Amjad Khan's opinion, the English government will eventually accept him
once he made it over the Channel.
- Mohammed, 38, talks about a vicious circle concerning the French
government because they don't want the asylum seekers: The refugees have to
wait more than a year to hand in their application for asylum, yet without
papers, they are not able to get a job.
Conclusion: The refugees are willing to
try everything possible to reach England because in their opinion, it is easier
there to build up a new existence. They sacrifice a lot to realize their goal.
Towards the tunnel...
Where does this attraction come from?
- Contrary to France, in England, nobody is able to ask another person for
their papers unless they are suspected of having committed an offence.
- Everybody who enters England is instantly given the status of an asylum
seeker and is able to apply for a work permit six months later.
- Because of the black economy which is four times as large as
France's, it
is possible for everyone to find a job.
- Like Britain, France cannot, for practical, humanitarian and political
reasons, simply fly immigrants back to their home country when this
country's political situation deemed hazardous. Otherwise, this could expose
them to 'inhuman or degrading treatment'.
Conclusion: For these reasons, the
refugee problem in Sangatte cannot be solved unless the EU starts an European
approach to a common treatment of asylum seekers.
Sources:
- BBC article "Fortress Europe's most notorious town", published
on 09/05/01
- Le Monde article "A Sangatte, des migrants prêts 'á tout
essayer'
pour gagner l'Angleterre", written by Acacio Pereira, published on
09/14/01
- Guardian article "Why refugees prefer Britain to France",
published on 09/06/01
More information on the web:
http://www.brook.edu/fp/cusf/analysis/immigration.htm
http://www.france.diplomatie.fr/france/gb/geo/popu03.html
http://www.fritz-karsen.de/comenius/1999_00/history.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Refugees_in_Britain/Story/0,2763,548380,00.html
http://www.guardian.co.uk/elsewhere/journalist/story/0,7792,547871,00.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_1517000/1517050.stm
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