I am running every day for 44 days in memory of each of the 44 people who lost their lives at the French-UK border in the past year. One death is one too many and there have been at least 343 deaths at this border since 1999 - including many children and young people. Sadly, we don't have the names or details of everyone who has died since last January, but I was hoping to honour each of them in a small way. By doing so, I am also trying to raise funds for Refugee Women's Centre who work tirelessly to support women and families in Northern France.
You can follow my daily runs here: https://www.strava.com/athletes/20647723
"Refugee Women's Centre provides holistic support for migrant women and families living in informal outdoor settlements in Calais and Dunkirk and in accommodation centres in surrounding areas. We are committed to creating safe spaces for women and children, providing them with the means to live with dignity, and advocating for access to shelter and for other human rights to be met. We do so by going on the ground every day, where people are living and staying, to spend time with them, by organising activities (such as arts and crafts, English classes), by fulfilling their immediate material needs on an individual basis, and by connecting them to professional organisations for more specialised needs (medical, legal, or psychological). We recognise that “basic needs” include mental health well-being; therefore RWC acts as a moral support and creates spaces that are dedicated for women to feel comfortable."
Unfortunately, Refugee Women's Centre's main funder withdrew their support for organisations in Northern France at the start of 2022. This has left many organisations in a precarious situation with the possibility of not being able to offer vital support to displaced people living in Northern France. This could leave vulnerable people at greater risk. In an ever-changing environment, I would love to be able to fundraise some money that could be used by Refugee Women's Centre to respond to needs on the ground.
Huge thank you to everyone who has donated, for everyone who has sent messages of support and for everyone who has run/walked/remembered with me in memory of:
Unknown, 26, Afghan
Unknown, 30
Loghman, Kurdish
M, 20, Eritrean
Yasser Abdallah, 20, Sudanese
Mohammed Al-Amin, Sudanese
Unknown, Sudanese
Ali Ismaël Ali Ahmed, 25, Sudanese-Eritrean
Abdallah Ibrahim
Muslim Ismael Hamad, 19, Kurdish
Bilind Shukir Baker, 20, Kurdish
Sirwan Alipour, 23, Kurdish
Hassan Mohammed Ali, 37, Kurdish
Shakar Ali Pirot, 30, Kurdish
“Harem” Serkaut Perot Muhammad, 28, Kurdish
Afrasia Ahmed Mohammed, 27, Kurdish
“Hybar” Bryar Hamad Abdulrahman, 23, Kurdish
Mohammed Hussein Mohammed, 19, Kurdish
Rezhwan Yasin Hassan, 19, Kurdish
Mohammed Qadir Aulla, 21, Kurdish
Mhabad Ahmad Ali, 32, Kurdish
Baran Maryam Nuri Mohamed Amin, 24, Kurdish
Hasti Rzgar Hussein, 7, Kurdish
Mubin Rzgar Hussein, 16, Kurdish
Hadiya Rzgar Hussein, 22, Kurdish
Kazhal Ahmed Khidhir, 46, Kurdish
Unknown, 20, Egyptian
Unknown, 24, Somalian
Unknown, 46, Ethiopian
Unknown, 25, Ethiopian
Unknown, 22, Ethiopian
Ahmad Didar, 27, Afghan
Mohammad Naeem Mayar, 40, Afghan
Shawali Kochy, 26, Afghan
Husain Tanha, 24, Afghan
Unknown, 29, Vietnamese
Unknown
Unknown
Unknown
Musab Mahmoud Mohammad Omar, 16, Sudanese
Unknown
Azzeidin, Sudanese
Abdallah Saleh, 22, Sudanese
Unknown, Eritrean
Borders kill and we need safe and legal routes now.
*The number is likely higher than 44 given that at least 6 people were reported missing last year.
Twana Mamand Mohammed, 18 Kurdish (missing at sea)
Pshtiwan Rasul Farka, 18 Kurdish (missing at sea)
Zanyar Mustafa Mina 20, Kurdish (missing at sea)
*More people have died since 22/01/22.
