International solidarity and people-on-the-move in the French Calais region

The situation of people in transit to the UK in the Calais region (Northern France) has persisted for decades. As a direct result of the inaction of the French and British governments, these people have been surviving until their departure thanks to the help of local citizens' initiatives and humanitarian organisations. Since the destruction of the 2015-2016 CITS, a broader solidarity network of actors ranging from grassroots movements to international organisations has developed and managed the area by providing aid to the communities on the ground. This research emphasize these new movements as being part of volunteer humanitarianism, thus challenging the traditional humanitarian aid model. This paper focuses on the internal and external functioning of these newly created organisations. Hence, this research proposes the following question: How and why do NGOs practices in the Calais region support people in transit since the dismantling of the 2015 Calais Informal Transit Settlement (CITS)? Drawing from participatory observation and informal interviewing during the summer 2023 within two new British-founded volunteer-run organisations, Care4Calais and Mobile Refugee Support, this paper provides critical insights on this new model of aid. Findings highlights the double-standards of the new independence in tension with the dependence feature of volunteer-based functioning, and its possible impact for both NGOs and people-on the move needs. Indeed, this paper emphasiezes that this model of help is dependent on these organisations abilities to be part of a strong and trusted network of actors. Further, this research highlights, how, throught their discourses and practices, NGOs participate enable the redrawing of imaginary and physical borders. Thus, it shows the new politicisation feature of NGOs against current border politics and poses the question of whether this new type of aid, despite its professionalisation and structuration is to be more regarded as humanitarian aid or activism?