CALAIS, France

Mar 28, 2024 9:17 AM

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Julia Druelle/SIPA/Newscom

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Julia Druelle/SIPA

migration, BORDER, REFUGEE, asile, immigration, WELCOME, integration, EXILE, deplacement, droits humains

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On January 14, 2024, five Syrians - the youngest being 15 years old - lost their lives while attempting to reach England by sea. It has been over two months, and yet three of them are still not buried, their bodies being held at the hospital in Lille. According to the support groups assisting them, this delay is due to administrative complexities and shortcomings in the body identification process - even though they have been formally identified by their relatives. Their families, who receive very little information from the maritime gendarmerie, are deeply distraught and are trying to raise awareness about the situation. In Calais, the activist groups of the "death group" (which connects with families after each shipwreck) denounce the lack of consideration for deceased migrants at the border as well as for their families, who are prevented from grieving. On January 15, 2024, a vigil was held in Calais following a shipwreck that claimed the lives of 5 young Syrians. During this commemoration, the names of 4 of the missing (the 5th had not yet been identified) were added to the list of over 400 people who have lost their lives at the Franco-British border since 1999.//DRUELLEJULIA_sipa.00201/Credit:Julia Druelle/SIPA/2403281414