When I heard of the deaths of two children and two adults in the English Channel on Tuesday, my first thought was: ‘did I know them?’.
I've been to Calais and volunteered with other FBU members supporting Care4Calais, who provide a vital lifeline for those trapped in the camps. I met many men, women and children, all of whom had fled terror and persecution to seek a safe life for themselves and their families.
They told me of the war zones they had fled and the persecution they had suffered whilst travelling through different lands to seek safety. Many of them had lost family members to the warfare in their homeland, and many, particularly women, had been lost to gangs of human traffickers whilst fleeing.
I talked with them, ate with them, even played sports with them in the fields of their camp. Believe me when I tell you, they are no different from you or I. They have the same hopes and aspirations, the same desire for a safe, successful life for themselves and their families.
However, unlike you and I, they were born in a different place and, because of this, they have had a life of terror and deprivation thrust upon them. They need and deserve our help and solidarity.
We must not let our politicians dodge the issue. Neither must we dance to the tune of right-wing bigots, xenophobes and racists who spin lies and deceit to whip up fear against people in desperate need. Speaking out may seem daunting in a country dominated by a right-wing press, but silence in the face of children drowning in our own backyard makes us all complicit.
In response to the recent deaths, Save the Children said that 'the English Channel must not become a graveyard for children’. They are right – and as humanitarians and trade unionists, we must take action.
Our movement was built on solidarity. And all those fleeing war, persecution, and poverty need our solidarity now more than ever. So the FBU will continue to support Care4Calais’ crucial work with refugees.
They are calling for a humane approach to this crisis – one that offers a clear, legal process for refugees in Calais to have their asylum cases heard by UK authorities.
I urge all FBU members to support them in this fight. Write to your MPs and demand a safe route for migrants – and give generously to support Care4Calais’ crucial work.
