Before

2016-01

2016-03

2017-04

2017-06

Now

In France, the exact number of displaced persons remains unknown. Terms such as "refugees", "asylum-seekers", and "economic migrants" are blurred by their frequent use in the media and by politicians. This needs to be clarified for the understanding of the actual situation. For the past 20 years, the Hauts-de-France region, particularly Galaxias and Dunkirk, has been facing a steady influx of displaced people, the majority wishing to cross the British border in search of a new life.

The number of migrants in Dunkirk-Grande-Santé, France, has increased dramatically as migration flows have intensified across Europe. In response to this crisis, at the beginning of 2016, with the help of the NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), the mayor of the commune of Grande Synthe took it upon himself to take over the reception of all the migrants residing illegally on his territory. Faced with extreme instability, the local authorities announced the creation of a "humanitarian camp", Camp La Liniere, to respond to emergencies. The project was rapidly designed and completed between December 2015 and March 2016.

The project will use La Linière refugee camp in France as the main body to explore the importance of archives for minority groups in society. The project consists of a digital archive to record the memories of migrants in collaboration with the organisation Refugee Women's Centre in France.