We can’t turn our back on migrants
LIVING on the Kent coast — Greatstone, Dungeness, Littlestone and St Mary’s Bay — we see a steadily worsening situation, with migrants arriving in ever-increasing numbers. Day and night, we can hear the Coastguard, Border Force and police helicopters. A high tide and calm seas bring in the little rubber dinghies. Then the thump-thump of the choppers is punctuated by the screams of the sirens of emergency vehicles rushing to the site of the latest landing. We are woken up nearly every night, so hope for bad weather to discourage the migrants from attempting a crossing. Instead of living in a coastal ShangriLa as we hoped, we are subjected to the racket of troubled inner city life. The general populace of these coastal hamlets have become migrant watchers. We rush out to help as the little craft beach and small groups struggle to get ashore, clutching babies, youngsters and little bags of possessions. The ordeal at sea, exposure and sea sickness leaves them shivering, cold, wet and in desperate need of our help. The first attenders rush down across the sand and shingle with blankets, cups of tea, face masks and food. But most of all they bring comfort to expectant mothers, the elderly and children. Sometimes the migrants are herded into a local resident’s house to await the arrival of the authorities. Even though we complain about the disruption to our lives and condemn them for stupidly risking their lives at sea, they are still fellow human beings. We can’t let them suffer without doing our bit to help, whatever we may think of their foolhardy intentions.
John ATKIns, Greatstone, Kent.