Health, employment, the right to adequate accommodation… On occasion festival organized by France terre d’Asile at Ground Controlon November 14 and 15 in Paris, revisiting travel plans and the hardships faced by women in exile.
Although the term “undocumented” is often used to describe someone who does not have official documents that would allow them to legally reside in France, this status covers a wide range of backgrounds. For example with a Tunisian doctor and an Algerian woman with no training.
“I am a general practitioner. I arrived in France in 2023 and immediately started working in a hospital. I performed all the duties, like all other doctors, while being paid 1,450 euros per month. Administrative complications quickly colored my daily life. Everything was very complicated. Luckily, I work in an emergency room, so I used my days off to travel to the prefecture or make phone calls. I found myself without papers for several months in 2023 and again in 2023. 2025. Under uncertain circumstances, I continue to work at the hospital because they need me.
“At that time, my mother was sick and hospitalized in Tunisia. However, due to a lack of papers, I couldn’t leave, I couldn’t help her when she asked me to. I was finally able to return to Tunisia in August and my mother died ten days later. I was so sad and so sorry that it was difficult for me to live. I gave everything to work to not think about her.
“I can’t imagine one day not having papers in France and being treated like this! It was very difficult psychologically. Luckily, my colleagues were understanding, they always supported me and I know that doesn’t happen to everyone. But why put up with this? We are quality people, we come to help, we pay taxes. Even though there is a great need for doctors in France, I don’t understand why we are treated like criminals.”
“I arrived from Algeria in January 2017. When my father died, I had problems with my brother, so I ran away and went to my sister who lives in Lyon. She has three children, she accepted me. All I wanted to do was work and live my life.
“In 2019, I was told about a job in Calais. My prospective employer said “come and I will take care of your papers for you.” I lived with him for four years, without papers. I work seven days a week as a maid. Since he didn’t want to go to the dry cleaners, I washed his clothes too. I took care of the training of the new housekeeper, a little renovation, painting, etc. I do everything in his hotel and I also cook food for him. He gave me 300 euros per month, plus a small room and a paper stating that the rent was 450 euros.
“And then he became evil, he shouted at me. I left, I slept on the street, with acquaintances, friends, again with my sister in Lyon. It’s terrible without papers; you have no right to work, when you go out you’re afraid, when you travel you’re afraid. I’ve been here in France for almost nine years and as soon as I went to my sister’s house I was afraid of the control.
“One of my great pleasures is volunteering at Secours catholique, to help people. When we are alone and there is emptiness around us, what else can we do? There, we welcome the women, we serve coffee, we give food. And then we exchange ideas, and when I speak Arabic, I sometimes do the translation.
Today I am still in Calais, but I have fallen ill, my heart hurts, and I am tired. I had to be hospitalized and when I came out, my morale was zero. Two friends hosted me, one, the other. But I want a house. Like everyone else.”
