The Polish diaspora in the UK started to help the drivers who were boxed in the UK and have been waiting for a few days to leave the country. We got to know the backstage of the action, which is carried out by Poles living in the United Kingdom – they have ganged together on an internet communicator and deliver food to their compatriots, who are camping out in trucks.
For thousands of drivers who are stuck in the UK, this is one of the saddest Christmas ever. Their families stayed at home while they spent long hours in the cab of the truck waiting for the opportunity to continue driving.
The congestion is the result of a Sunday’s decision by France which, due to the spread of a new variety of coronavirus in England, closed the border for 48 hours for arrivals from the UK, and this did not only apply to passenger traffic but also the transport of goods. On Wednesday, the border was opened, but only for those with a negative coronavirus test.
Mr Adam Skupnik, who helps Polish drivers in the UK, contacted the Niezalezna.pl website.
The caller indicates that one of the airports in the vicinity of Dover closed behind a fence approx. 6,000 trucks. ‘They have no right to move, since Monday,’ Adam stresses. Polish drivers, however, can count on their compatriots in the British Isles, who have ganged together and are delivering food.
‘We’re doing our best. They’ve already got the food, they’re stocked. Now we’re trying to get them warm meals. But they’re having trouble with their medications’ – said Mr Adam for Niezalezna.pl.
The Polish diaspora in the UK contacts and organizes through help ‘Polonia 24’ (one of the popular applications) help.
‘They only have us. They haven’t got any specific information. Here, we have a group of Poles who bring them food, arrange medicines and drive around the hospitals. Drivers are locked in cars. In many cases, they can leave the cab legally for 30 minutes a day, they can’t do anything,’ Adam points out that sometimes you have to throw food to drivers through a tall, three-metre fence. This was confirmed by the films you can find on the web, where you can see how their food is delivered. ‘This is normally a concentration camp,’ he says.
Currently, coronavirus’ tests are being made in Dover, at the unused Manston airport and on the M20 – the road leading to Dover. A negative test result is a condition for entry into France. But it must take some time to unload the congestion – and that could mean spending more hours of waiting.
In the whole situation, it is worth emphasizing how Poles behaved in the UK – their solidarity with their compatriots in a difficult situation should arouse great admiration.