The closure of the Curry refugee camp, known as the “Jungle,” in 2016 made the journey from France to the UK far more perilous. This was largely due to heightened security measures and the militarization of borders.
In 2024, at least 78 individuals lost their lives attempting to reach the UK, marking the highest toll ever recorded by the International Organization for Migration.
Curry, home mainly to displaced people from Sudan, Syria, and Eritrea, currently has around 700 residents. They’re not permitted to pitch tents, with authorities evicting camps up to three times a week in this coastal city.
Protests against these policies in January highlighted the rapid pace of evictions, with officials actively dismantling any makeshift shelters to thwart the establishment of another permanent camp.
The environment in Curry is notably harsh, featuring barbed wire and rocks to hinder tent construction, along with surveillance equipment. This situation stems from an agreement in which the UK provided significant financial support to the French government to curb the flow of displaced persons into Curry and prevent them from crossing the channel.
Interestingly, despite the hostile conditions, the Curry municipality is striving to draw in more tourists. This initiative was symbolized by the introduction of the “Calais Dragon” in 2019, a massive fire-breathing figure designed to carry 50 visitors at a time—part of the city’s broader revitalization plans.
Authorities noted that increased monitoring at Curry Beach has compelled individuals to seek more dangerous routes along different coastal areas. The maritime sector here is one of the most intense globally, with over 600 commercial vessels navigating daily, making even seemingly calm waters treacherous.
For instance, the French Navy’s public service patrol boat, Comoran, took 77 people from a small, struggling vessel back to Curry in search of assistance.
One resident, Zizo, a 21-year-old from Sudan, dreams of becoming a hairdresser in the UK. Yet, statistics from the UK Home Office reveal that 36,816 people crossed the channel on small boats last year.
Despite the dangers, many on Curry’s coast feel compelled to attempt the crossing. This year has seen a 40% increase in attempts compared to the same timeframe in 2024.
The family of a 7-year-old girl who tragically died in such a crossing participated in a protest in January, highlighting the personal toll of these perilous journeys. Ahmed Alhashimi, an Iraqi, recounted how he was holding his daughter Sarah in an inflatable dinghy when their attempt was thwarted by a rush of others trying to board as they departed from Wimea, just south of Calais. It was the family’s fourth attempt to cross since arriving in the Pas de Calais region two months prior.
“I’m here today because I lost a part of my soul in the UK channel. I lost my beloved daughter,” Ahmed expressed during the protest, a sentiment that resonates deeply amid the chaos and tragedy surrounding these crossings.
Among the displaced is Ferhad, a Christian from Kuwait, who is fleeing an unsafe situation, and Nekmetin, originally from Sudan, who has spent three months in Curry.
In her recent mayoral victory speech for Greater Lincolnshire, Andrea Jenkins stated, “We’ve been working on policy.” She went on to express her disapproval of allowing refugees to stay in hotels and remarked, “The tents are enough for France. They should be good enough here in the UK.” In Curry, the displaced are essentially denied even the basic option of tent shelters.
