ALLIES IN STORMY WEATHER

19.11.25

We arrived in Dunkerque with a mini magnetic version of the 24X24 DUNKERQUE exhibition to display on the outside of the @medecinsdumonde (MdM) psychosocial activities van. On route, we briefly popped into the @esa_dunkerque.tourcoing art school, where some of the MDM team had come to view our collaborative exhibition for the first time. They shared that MDM and five other associations have this week put forward an urgent legal challenge to the State to demand an end to the structural neglect of people living outside in the area in inhumane conditions without their basic needs being met.

It has been a tense week altogether with moves from the UK government to dramatically overhaul the UK asylum system with draconian and cruel new policies. If carried through these would have huge ramifications that risk eroding refugees’ rights, and feed hostility and division.The announcement has had widespread condemnation across the refugee and humanitarian sectors.

Today we witnessed the reality of what people on the move have to endure. We walked up to the new 4 metre high wall that now cuts through the landscape where distributions from NGOs take place. It was windy, cold and very wet which meant that those waiting for the doctor took turns to keep dry inside the van, swapping places for those who needed more protection. Hailstones and heavy rain splattered the clothing of those near the door. Through all of this, two children were laughing, giggling and playing at hiding under the table.

We were all cold and wet and the number of people sheltering in the psychosocial activities van prevented much art-based activity from taking place. We set up a mini exhibition inside the van and placed a series of magnetic photos on the outside, where they got only fleetingly viewed. We realised that what we could do was be alongside people in the lashing rain. As one man said while standing with his friend: ‘all I need is my friend with me and that makes things feel a little better.’

Words by Miriam Usiskin, Aida Silvestri & Bobby Lloyd.