_ Calais /// Freedom Awaits _

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[dropcap]After[/dropcap] a recent demonstration in support of migrants and refugees in the streets of Calais, hundreds of asylum seekers broke through the fences of the Calais port, clashing with police. Many managed to board a ferry ironically called “Spirit of England”; the ferry didn’t leave port with the univited passengers. These pictures are representative of the pressure faced by the inhabitants of the jungle (a makeshift refugee camp in the outskirts of Calais); trapped between two worlds all they can do is risk their lives in hope of freedom across the English Channel.

This reportage is a part of an ongoing work by Michael Bunel covering the refugee situation in Calais.

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Refugees passing through the fence of Calais port. Two accesses were opened by migrants in different parts of the fence, around 200 hundred succeed to get access to a ferry.

Refugees running to the ferry docking.

Dozens of refugees trying to board on a docked ferry called “Spirit of Britain”.

Dozens of refugees trying to board “Spirit of Britain”.

Around 200 refugees board on “Spirit of Britain”.

Refugees helping each other to board the ferry.

After thirty minutes refugees start to leave the ferry as it was actually arriving from UK. The personnel of the boat used water cannons to remove the refugees.

Refugees hiding themselves from the personnel of the boat.

Refugees pushed away from the ferry by french police forces; 24 migrants and 10 no-borders were arrested.

Policemen chasing refugees from the port.

Refugees enjoying their short-lived success aboard the ferry.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” text_align=”left” css_animation=””][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Michael Bunel

After working as a concert photographer three years ago, Michael realised this was not what he wanted out of photography, he went back to the photography that inspired him, photojournalism, starting with covering a demonstration and some reports from Asia.  Michaels first step was with the french agency Wostok-press, then Turkya to follow the Gezi Park issue, onto Donbass at the beginning of the war between Russia and Ukraine. Michael is published globally, and won an exhibition in Paris with his pictures screened at “Bayeux-Calvados, war correspondents festival”. Michael is now working on the refugees crisis in the french slum so-called the “jungle” in Calais. He is based in France and works with agency CIRIC. 

Check Michaels work here: michaelbunel.com

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