Lori’s migrant aid convoy

A Dundee woman has travelled to Calais with vans full of supplies for migrants camped near the French ferry port.

Lori Sutherland, 29, a hairdresser from Ballumbie, said she felt she had no choice but to try to help after seeing the way the migrants were living there.

She said: “I feel disgusted at the way they are being treated over there.

“An animal has more rights than these people.

“Me and five friends decided to gather up as much stuff as we could, travel to France and deliver it to them.

“We did online campaigns and asked anyone we knew for things that they didn’t need. We ended up going over in two big transit vans filled with things that could help them out.”

Lori said that the majority of the migrants at the Calais camp – known to many as the Jungle – were male, so her group gathered things which were more appropriate for men.

Lori said: “It was pouring rain when we arrived and some of the migrants were nearby.

“All they had was a bit of cardboard over their head to protect them from the rain — no shoes, nothing.

“But they helped us unload the vans, no one was interested in taking anything for themselves, they were so polite and helpful.

“However, there were some very sad faces and I could see there was very little hope in their eyes.”

After unloading the van, Lori and her friends visited the Jungle.

She said: “We weren’t really sure what to expect, but everyone was so friendly. It is amazing to see what they have done as a community and given the circumstances they are in.”

Lori, who now lives in London, said that although she was only in Calais for a day, the trip emphasised how lucky she is.