REFUGEES in northern France fear for their basic survival more than the threat of coronavirus after a collapse in support from volunteers, a British charity has claimed. 

A survey, released today, of 105 refugees stranded in camps around Calais and Dunkirk found that almost half — 44 per cent — feared for their day-to-day survival, while 11 per cent said that they were worried about the coronavirus. 

Conducted by British aid group Care4Calais, the survey is another indication of the rapidly deteriorating situation for the 1,200 refugees stuck in northern France. 

Lockdown measures have forced most of the aid groups operating in the area to leave, reducing the normal taskforce of about 100 volunteers to less than 20. 

But French authorities have not stepped in to fill the gap, and have even rationed food and water to camps, Care4Calais claims.

Syrian refugee Ahmed said that the coronavirus was “making a bad situation worse” for people living in the camps. 

Care4Calais founder Clare Moseley, who has worked in northern France since 2015, said that she had “never been more fearful for the people living here.”

“We usually provide shelter, clothing, education and other services, but now every day is simply a battle to get people enough food to eat,” she said. 

Ms Moseley claims that the greatest threat to refugees now is the drop in volunteers. “Even those who do not get the virus could die for lack of life’s most basic necessities,” she warned. 

Although the French authorities promised to provide accommodation to all refugees, activist groups claim that this has not happened. 

French charity Utopia 56 told Al Jazeera that police have even attempted to prevent them from giving out blankets and other items. 

“These days authorities put more effort into disrupting charity work and clearing camps than helping people in need,” volunteer Antoine said.