THE IMPORTANCE OF FRIENDS
4th November 2026, Dunkirk
Today, we noticed that the seasonal change has truly arrived, with cold winds beginning to blow and the days getting darker earlier. The Médecins du Monde Hauts-de-France team was large today, including several familiar people with whom we have worked over many years.
We arrived at the distribution area to witness the end of a police eviction, with officers moving people away from their living sites. Men, women, and children stood stranded with their belongings, surrounded by puddles and litter. It was chilly. While most people wore coats, some stood in flimsy plastic shoes without adequate outerwear. Witnessing this is never easy, exacerbated today by the knowledge that there is currently a severe scarcity of tents and sleeping bags.
As we moved into the psychosocial van within the mobile clinic, two female friends came to join us, one accompanying the other in their need to see the doctor. The discussion soon centred around culture, food, mothers, and grandmothers. A knitting activity led to a conversation about crochet and how younger generations are moving away from the habits of older generations. Photos of national dress, traditional dishes, and family recipes were shared on phones.
The atmosphere in the van felt welcoming, and managed to accommodate around 25 people, most from Ethiopia, Sudan and Somalia. Several groups of women sat around the table throughout the afternoon. Individual men joined with a range of ailments and injuries. A group of young siblings joined us too, desperate to play and becoming completely absorbed in playing with plasticine.
In challenging circumstances, good people can help us cope better. This was a theme that was affirmed throughout the afternoon in the obvious friendships that have formed in this harsh setting, and the care and attention we noticed between the women in particular.
Towards the end of the afternoon, one woman described how they could not stay in Germany because they did not feel welcome there, and asked what the UK is like for refugees.
Words by Miriam Usiskin & Bobby Lloyd.
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