URGENT MESSAGE FROM CALAIS WAREHOUSES, 4 MARCH 2016:
PLEASE DO NOT STOP BRINGING AID!!
There is a crisis of aid supplies in Calais right now: because of the demolition of the "Jungle" people assume Calais is "over" and they've stopped bringing donations, BUT there are thousands of people still there and needing help!
- Please share this message with any others who may be able to help!
On Monday, 1,300 people in Dunkirk will start to move into a new MSF-built camp. However, due to the risk of scabies, people will not be able to bring their possessions or clothes with them from the previous unhealthy site. This means that a new set of clothes, boots, sleeping bag - and tents, in some cases - will have to be found for EVERYBODY in only a few days!! The warehouse run by Auberge des Migrants and HelpRefugees supplies both Calais and Dunkirk, but stocks have run out! PLEASE do not stop collecting and bringing aid over to the Calais Warehouse because you think Calais is "over" and if you are making a collection, bring it as fast as you can! There are still thousands of people to be clothed and fed.
You can buy on-line via the LeisureFayre page set up with refugee-specific items at (with a 20% discount at the checkout) but goods take five days to arrive.
For those who have not been over, the warehouse is 15 minutes OUTSIDE the "Jungle" camp and it is NOT DANGEROUS to deliver there at all. Please, if you can make a trip there, do so as soon as possible. The warehouse is about 15 minutes drive from both the ferry port and the Eurotunnel arrival point if traffic is good.
To allow those working in Calais to devote their time to delivering aid rather than to sorting donations, when delivering goods to the warehouse, please first email
- You will be asked to supply details of the kind and amount of aid you are dropping off; and your intended date and estimated time of arrival. You will then be informed of the delivery address.
- The donations coordinator does all her admin after a long day in the warehouse and camp. Please try and give at least 48 hrs notice when you email her with details of donations you wish to drop off.
MOST URGENTLY NEEDED ITEMS:
Tents, warm sleeping bags, roll mats, toiletries, hats, socks, gloves, tinned food, bottled water.
ESPECIALLY
Men's gloves,
Men's underwear s/m
Men's joggers s/m
Waterproof coats (small)
Shoes/ sturdy trainers/ walking boots - Euro sizes 41 - 43
Please help - or buy online via leisurefayre - thank you!
ADDENDUM
Other people added to the list of requirements within a couple of hours of the appearance of the original appeal! The combined list – covering all items that are needed at the moment in one or other warehouse for either Calais or Dunkirk – is as follows.
MOST URGENTLY NEEDED ITEMS:
Tents,
warm sleeping bags,
roll mats,
Toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, moisturiser, toilet rolls, razors, deodorant, baby wipes, tissues, liquid hand soap - better and more hygienic than solid in camp conditions)
Clothes:
hats,
(thick) socks,
gloves
scarfs
Men's joggers (s/m)
Men's underwear (s/m)
Men's Waterproof coats (small)
Men's Sturdy trainers/ walking boots - Euro sizes 41 - 43
MEN'S
long sleeve tops (s/m)
hoodies (s/m)
jumpers (s)
fleeces (s/m)
men's coats/jackets (s/m)
mens jumpers (s/m)
men's trousers (s)
WOMEN'S
underwear (only smaller cup size bras - up to 36C)
Warm, Waterproof coats (S/M)
Waterproof trousers
leggings (s/m)
joggers
trackies/comfy trousers (s/m)-
shoes/boots/wellies - sizes 37-41 (no heels!)
long-sleeved tops
jumpers
hoodies
YOUTH (ages 13-17)
long sleeve tops,
hoodies,
joggers,
underwear
CHILDREN AND BABIES
-socks
-hats
-gloves
-scarfs
-underweat
-trackies all ages
-baby formula
-baby wipes
FOOD
1 litre oil
1 kg rice
1 kg sugar
tinned fish (tuna, sardines, mackerel)
packets of biscuits
tinned goods (tomatoes, chickpeas, kidney beans)
tea
coffee
750g salt
tinned fruit and veg
bottled water.
vegetable stock cubes
1 litre UHT milk
onions and garlic and other fresh fruit and veg
Please choose cans with ring pull tops and make sure everything is IN date!
MISCELLANEOUS
-rucksacks
-Thick blankets
-gas cylinders (to fit French/EU camping stoves)
-candles (8hr candles ideally)
-torches or battery powered lights
-batteries AA/AAA
-wind-up or solar lights and torches
-gas stoves (with French fittings)
-Tarpaulins - preferably 3.5m x 5m and bigger