OUT IN THE FIELD: Awful vile comments posted about migrants arriving in Eastbourne

Meals being provided, telephone conversations offered to those feeling totally isolated and shopping collected are just some of the ways the community of Eastbourne has rallied round in these troubled times. I like to think there are more nice people in the world than unpleasant folk.

Sadly my optimism was shattered at the weekend when I saw some of the truly appalling comments from people on social media sites about the 35 migrants brought ashore to Sovereign Harbour on a cold Saturday afternoon. The rubber inflatable they were travelling in was spotted in the world’s busiest shipping lane in the English Channel as temperatures plummeted to well below freezing. A ferry raised the alarm and coastguards and lifeboats were scrambled as the dinghy bobbed about 23 miles off the coast of Beachy Head.

The 35 on board were from Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq and had most likely paid thousands of pounds each to secure a space on the dinghy and were prepared to risk their lives for the crossing.

Among the party were at least three small children. I cannot imagine how frightened these people were. As a mother, I also can’t imagine these parents had taken the decision to take such a risk lightly. These poor people have seen some terrible things in their lives, their homes have been destroyed through civil war and they have nothing.

If you want an insight into the suffering they have endured read The Beekeeper of Aleppo which details the horror of lives destroyed in Syria.

Many pointed out on Facebook that the migrants shouldn’t have been rescued at all let alone bought ashore to Eastbourne. Others described them as ‘Covid carriers’ putting yet more strain on health services and spouted such vile remarks, they’re not worth repeating. Where is their empathy and #bekind ethos? The migrants don’t jump into an inflatable and embark on a perilous journey for the fun of it; they are seeking a better life for their children and families and who can blame them? Wouldn’t we all if we were in that situation? Thankfully the group were shown the utmost compassion by the lifeboat volunteers, coastguards, police officers, paramedics and Border Force officials. Some were taken to hospital including one man who had been in the water for some time and the others were taken by coach to a detention centre in Gatwick. Judging by some of the comments on social media, you would think they had been taken to a five star hotel. I wouldn’t think a stay in a detention centre anywhere, let alone the prosperous south, is particularly pleasant. I truly believe that, like me, once you have stood on the quayside and seen these individuals coming ashore opinions will change. And in future instead of spouting hatred and vile comments, show a bit of compassion to our fellow human beings.

Covid-19 continues to overwhelm our lives and our DGH which currently has around five times the number of coronavirus positive in-patients that it had at the height of the first wave with half of its beds occupied by Covid-19 positive patients. Remember this disease is a killer. It’s not a conspiracy. It’s here and we need to continue being careful and sticking to the rules. Don’t leave your families and friends grieving the loss of you.