At the time of the dismantling of the Calais jungle Monday, the associations had come in numbers to direct and reassure migrants in safety vest leaving for the reception centers. Difficult farewell…
“Bye bye, thank you…” Thousands of migrants have left the “jungle” of Calais on Monday to go to reception and orientation centers (CAD), not without emotion. In the extension queues, tears, and sometimes smiles, wide ear to ear. Before leaving, some have therefore long entwined, before whispering in his ear that they would meet again soon.
Around them, dozens of Interior officials and members of associations came supervise operations, but most say goodbye. In the midst of the crowd, between two gates, one woman in yellow reflective vest is crying. She just said goodbye to a group of refugees. “I’m sad, but hey it’s good for them,” she confides lump in his throat. Brigitte works daily in the “jungle” for a year and a half as a French teacher with the Secours. “We were much attached to them because it’s been the same. But I’m glad they leave because they could not live in such conditions.”
It has held the role of father, mother, brother, sister … “Philippe, a volunteer at the Secours. Some associations have virtually born the Calais jungle. This is the case of Salam, where Claire worked since 2009. She also has trouble describing his emotion that day farewell. “We have people who are there every day, giving clothes, shoes, food, blankets, candles, toilet paper … And these people are both very happy and both very sad. It hurts the heart when you see people go, “said the fifties with a tight smile, but moved.”We took the role of father, mother, brother or sister,” said Philippe Secours.
Further, a tall redhead wearing a red and white vest made large gestures to indicate the path to migrants. It is found a few minutes later, also in tears.
The Calais page is far from tour
“They are more human than other people. They are amazing,” she insists, glasses fogged with tears. “It’s very hard to say goodbye, but you know it will get better. It will be difficult but not as difficult as their lives here.”
But while the Calais jungle living its last days, a question arises: what will make these volunteers in reflective jacket, these agents, these anonymous once everything is finished? For most of them, they do not know it yet. “Keep my life,” Brigitte enjoys a laugh. One thing is certain; the Calais page is far from tour. Some are thinking indeed to stay put a little longer. “I’ll wait to be sure that refugees are well gone, assures. I want to be sure they are safe.” Before we trust that it will take “however long it takes.”