The UK-based charity Care4Calais has distributed thousands of SIM cards, Ramadan food packs, and clothing items to migrants arriving in Britain. In its 2024-25 financial year report, the charity stated it provided 2,500 SIM cards with six months of free data in partnership with Vodafone, alongside 1,173 Ramadan food packs and over 7,000 clothing items, including hoodies and joggers.
Care4Calais, a volunteer-run organization operating in the UK, France, and Belgium, also offered English language support, befriending services, and haircuts to asylum seekers. The charity reported running 80 drop-in sessions and 17 large-scale handout events at British military bases housing asylum seekers, such as Napier Barracks and the former RAF Wethersfield.
A spokesperson for Care4Calais highlighted the challenging backdrop of new government legislation, marginalizing systems, and rising hostility towards refugees, while emphasizing the consistent and compassionate support provided by their volunteer network. The charity noted that the Ramadan food packs were intended to help refugees observe the holy month with dignity, costing approximately £6.90 each.
Chris Philp MP, Shadow Home Secretary, criticized the charity's actions, stating that "open-borders charities" have not deterred illegal Channel crossings and have instead made the journey more attractive. He argued that incentives such as accommodation and benefits encourage further crossings. Philp reiterated the Conservative party's plan to leave the European Convention on Human Rights to facilitate rapid deportations and to stop non-citizens from claiming benefits.
This initiative by Care4Calais comes as reports indicate a significant number of migrants arriving by sea. One mega-dinghy was reported to have carried 230 people, potentially representing a substantial profit for people traffickers who are reportedly adapting their methods to circumvent anti-trafficking strategies. Officials have expressed concerns that the use of larger vessels increases the risk of a mass tragedy. Migrants at Calais are seen carrying charity bags containing Iftar meals for Ramadan A 17-year-old Sudanese teenager called Abdul proudly opened his bag to show off the food for a photo The migrant mega-dinghy - pictured in Dover today - with 230 people aboard reached Britain overnight Yesterday French police did nothing more than watch as a baby and toddlers were carried aboard a dinghy to England