FINDING STABLE GROUND
Dunkirk, France - 7th September 2026
It was our first week back in Dunkirk after a summer break. The weather was temperate, and we were pleased to reconnect with Médecins du Monde Hauts-de-France team and mobile clinic. News of this weekend’s far-right “stop the boats” protests in Dover and Portsmouth was discussed during the morning meeting.
The physical landscape around the distribution points and living sites remains bleak. A hostile twist is being added to the terrain: a complex network of walls built on either side of the railway line, hemming people in even further.
Despite the grim surroundings, the team was fully in action. The doctor and nurse were busy, which meant that the psychosocial van was well used. We noted a high prevalence of skin issues, limb injuries, and severe burns. The people seeking help came from a wide range of countries and spanned all generations—from infants and teenagers to young people, and adults who once led established professional lives.
We caught snippets of people’s journeys. We heard from a 14-year-old who was forced to flee their homeland, only to be imprisoned for a year in a country on route. Others had been violently evicted from neighbouring countries or deemed stateless in the very lands where they were born. The themes of displacement, loss, and statelessness hung heavy in the air. Many spoke about how gruelling life in Dunkirk truly is, defined by a severe paucity of basic necessities, in spite of the immense efforts of the NGOs.
Yet, amidst these harsh realities, we found a moment of connection. We set up a game of Jenga, which quickly evolved into a spirited four-player match. The unstable ground on which the van was parked made our small table slightly skewed. Every movement in and out of the van caused it to wobble, forcing us to be acutely aware of the tower’s delicate balance. But against the odds, we managed to make it work - finding our own kind of stable ground, together as a group.
Words by Miriam Usiskin & Bobby Lloyd.
Comments