HUMAN WARMTH & RED SNAPPER

Dunkirk, 11.03.26

It was a bright Spring day, with unexpected periods of sunshine. This evening in both Dunkirk and Calais, a human circle of silence will gather to mark yet another tragic death on the northern France coast.

Before arriving with @medecinsdumonde at the distribution area outside Dunkirk, we were informed of recent high levels of police violence, and possible tensions. In the event, it was a calm afternoon - though busy for the medical team whose mobile clinic was set up in the potholed landscape.

People made their way into the psychosocial activities van where they could sit, and try to rest. A larger team, we ourselves were able to position a table near the outdoors waiting area, and move inside and outside, straddling the spaces.

As well as efforts to enjoy the warmth of the day, today we witnessed a lot of human warmth and looking after, between friendship groups, siblings, young families and people who didn’t know eachother.

We also witnessed the shared enjoyment people have in looking together, and that shared memories and images help people find pockets of connection, and solace. When asked what meal a west African cook might make for us all, he lit up as he described a fish stew, using his favourite red snapper from his birthplace sea.

Using Viewmasters and slideviewers, we also delighted around the table in tropical seascapes, birds, cave drawings, and mountain landscapes. A tiny change of scene held up to the blue sky.

Words by Miriam Usiskin, Bobby Lloyd, Johannes Maarten & Alex Sarginson.