Marika Dee

Jungle Life - Places

At the northern edge of France, in and around the port city of Calais, lie several makeshift tent and tarpaulin camps known as « jungles ». These jungles provide a temporary shelter for the thousands of refugees and migrants flocking here. After the demolition in 2002 of the Red Cross centre in Sangatte near Calais, camps were spread out over the region, on the coast and the main road axes for trucks heading to the UK. Approximately three thousand refugees and migrants gather in the region in the hope of crossing the English Channel. They are Afghan, Sudanese, Eritrean, Ethiopian, Pakistani, Syrian among others. All looking for a normal and safe life which they believe will be easier in Britain. Here, they are only an hour-and-a-half ferry ride, away from their final destination: the UK. 

For the refugees and migrants, it’s the last stage of a long and often very perilous journey. Some have been wandering around Europe for years, others have arrived more recently from their war-torn or poverty stricken countries. Since the beginning of 2014 the number of refugees and migrants has increased from 600 to about 3000. Most refugees and migrants are in their twenties, but there are also many teenagers travelling alone. Mohammed Ali (15) left Eritrea over a year ago, fleeing the harsh dictatorship and the oppression, indefinite military service and slavery that are part of it. “I survived captivity in the Libyan desert and a shipwreck in the Mediterranean” he said “I am not going to give up now, this is the last border to cross. 

Although every day a steady trickle of refugees and migrants makes it across, many are stuck in the camps for months. They live in squalor, in makeshift tents, cabins and muddy camps, often without access to running water or electricity. Speaking about the harsh living conditions, Ragu (22) from Afghanistan said “Every day we die a little”. Like most refugees he had no idea how miserable the journey would be but he and his friends are confident that eventually they will reach the other side. “We have to go to the UK” they said “we have no choice”. 

Many of the refugees and migrants are heavily indebted to human smugglers. Under threats of the Taliban, Dawran (19) fled Afghanistan, running up a 15 000 dollars debt. “We Afghan boys we want to go to school but the smugglers want their money. I have no choice but to try to go to the UK, where there is a better chance of work, and repay them. There are many young Afghans in the same situation.” 

But the clandestine crossing is not without danger. Refugees and migrants injure themselves regularly falling of trucks, fleeing the police or taking desperate risks; some even die pursuing their dream. In 2014 an estimated 15 persons have died almost within sight of their ultimate destination, the UK. 

Despite the wretched living conditions, failed attempts and fatalities, people keep arriving and making a desperate bid for a new life; waiting and hoping to find a way to cross the Channel. Some succeed but many more are stranded in this corner of France, stuck in limbo. 

  • Calais, December 2014 Migrants walk by shelters made of plastic sheeting, packing crates and other found materials in Tioxide camp in Calais. The makeshift tent and tarpaulin camps are locally known as {quote}jungles{quote}.  The Tioxide jungle, situated next to a chemical plant, is currently the largest camp in Calais.
  • Calais, December 2014 A church constructed by the Ethiopian community in the jungle camp of Tioxide. The camp initially not more than a small collection of shelters has grown into the largest camp in Calais, housing more than 800 persons. With the construction of a makeshift church, mosque, barbershop and shop, life has gotten increasingly organized over the last months.
  • Calais, December 2014 Inside the Galoo squat, a large abandoned metal recycling plant, housing hundreds of migrants.
  • Calais, December 2014 View on part of the Tioxide jungle, a camp situated next to a chemical plant. The camp, initially not more than a small collection of shelters, has grown into the largest camp in Calais, housing more than 800 persons. With the construction of a makeshift church, mosque, barbershop and shop, life has gotten increasingly organized over the last months. But without any electricity or running water, living conditions are squalid.
  • Grande-Synthe, February 2014 The outdoor sanitary area of the so-called “jungle”camp of Grande-Synthe. The camp, located about 35 kilometers from Calais, houses about 60 to 70 Afghani refugees and migrants.
  • Calais, February 2014 A camp called the “Sudanese jungle” is located next to a motorway in Calais.  Without running water or electricity, living conditions are extremely difficult for the mainly Sudanese refugees and migrants living here.
  • JUNGLE_LIFE_PLACES_07
  • Calais, December 2014 A makeshift shelter made of plastic sheeting, packing crates and other found materials in the Tioxide jungle.
  • Calais, December 2014 A makeshift shelter made of plastic sheeting, packing crates and other found materials in Tioxide jungle.
  • JUNGLE_LIFE_PLACES_10
  • Calais, December 2014 Tents stand inside a hangar in Tioxide jungle in Calais. The hangar, a former gymnasium, stands next to a chemical plant.
  • Calais, December 2014 In the Tioxide jungle migrants’ mobile phones charge with a generator that is occasionally brought in by an aid organization.
  • JUNGLE_LIFE_PLACES_13
  • Calais, December 2014 Barbershop “Salon UK” in the Tioxide jungle.
  • Calais, December 2014 A makeshift shelter made of plastic sheeting and packing crates stands on the site of Galoo squat, an abandoned metal recycling plant.
  • Calais, February 2014 Tents stand on a disused railway line in Calais just beside the main port from where ferries leave for the UK. The tents are reinforced against the elements by plastic sheets, tarpaulins, wooden pallets and railway line ballast. In May 2014, police used bulldozers to dismantle three makeshift camps around the town, claiming that an outbreak of scabies threatened public health. Since then, several new camps have sprung up to shelter the refugees and migrants who keep arriving in increasing numbers.
  • Calais, February 2014 A camp called the “Sudanese jungle” is located next to a motorway in Calais.  Without running water or electricity, living conditions are extremely difficult for the mainly Sudanese migrants living here.
  • Calais, February 2014 Tents stand in a small park, not far from the port of Calais.  In and around Calais, tents and shanties are spread out on the coast and the main road axes for lorries heading to the UK. In May 2014 police used bulldozers to dismantle three makeshift camps around the town, claiming that an outbreak of scabies threatened public health. Since then, several new camps have sprung up to shelter the migrants who keep arriving in increasing numbers.
  • Calais February 2014 Tents stand in a park near the town hall of Calais. In May 2014 police used bulldozers to dismantle three makeshift camps around the town, saying there had been an outbreak of scabies that threatened public health. Since then, several new camps have sprung up to shelter the migrants who keep arriving in increasing numbers.
  • HOME
  • Belfast: Being Young in a Divided City
  • Havana's Disenchanted Youth
  • Havana Youth - Portraits
  • Jungle Life
  • Jungle Life - Places
  • Mongolia's Urban Youth: Between Tradition and Globalization
  • Shatila Girls
  • Shatila Girls - Portraits
  • Napoli Idols
  • Not My Country
  • Europe's Largest Squat
  • Deadly Jeans
  • Extraordinary Romania
  • TEAR SHEETS
  • PRIVATE GALLERIES
  • CONTACT

All images © Marika Dee 2018. Site design © 2010-2025 Neon Sky Creative Media