U.K. Cyclists to Deliver Bikes, Supplies to Calais Refugees

Sarah Morpurgo has no idea how many people will join her on a 65‐mile bike trip this weekend to deliver critical supplies to refugees and migrants living in a camp known as “the New Jungle” in Calais, France, but she’s feeling optimistic.

On Tuesday, the Facebook page for Critical Mass to Calais, an informal bike ride being led by Morpurgo and her friends, said 993 people planned to attend, although she acknowledged that many of those might be “solidarity clicks” in support of the journey.

“It’s going to be a bit of a surprise as to how many people will turn up, ” Morpurgo,25, told Newsweek. “Seven more people really need to hit ‘click.’”

Seven people had done just that a day after Newsweek spoke with Morpurgo, bringing the total number “attending” to 1,000. An Indiegogo campaign for the bike ride, which will take place August 29 to 31, had reached its 1,000‐pound ($1,547) fundraising goal.

Once they get to Calais, the cyclists plan to give refugees and migrants their bikes, a much‐needed form of transportation that will make it easier for the camp’s residents to get to shops and health care clinics. Supplies such as hygiene products, tents, sleeping bags and clothing will be taken to Calais in support vehicles and donated through the Secours Catholique – Caritas France charity.

The port city of Calais has come under intense focus in recent months, becoming a symbol of a staggering global crisis of displacement: 1 out of every 122 people on Earth is either a refugee, an asylum seeker or displaced, the highest such number since World War II, according to the office of the United Nations high commissioner for refugees... (...)

(Available: http://www.newsweek.com/critical‐mass‐uk‐cyclists‐deliver‐bikes‐and‐supplies‐calais‐refugees‐366284. Adapted.)