Calais camp, symbol of migrant crisis, set for destruction
Calais camp, symbol of migrant crisis, set for destruction
(about 2 hours later)
CALAIS, France — A French court on Thursday gave the state the green light to raze tents and lean-tos sheltering hundreds of migrants in a sprawling slum camp in Calais, where thousands dream of getting to Britain.
CALAIS, France — A French court gave the state the green light Thursday to raze makeshift tents and lean-tos used by hundreds of migrants at a sprawling slum in Calais, where many dream of slipping into Britain.
The camp in the northern port city — known as the “jungle” — has been an embarrassing and often shocking chapter in Europe’s migrant crisis, and the state announced this month that the densely populated southern half would be razed.
Tamping down fears of a violent confrontation, France’s interior minister promised to treat the migrants humanely and not send in bulldozers to evict them.
Associations protesting the move took the issue to court seeking a postponement of a deadline reached last Tuesday for migrants to move out.
The camp in the northern port city — known as “the jungle” — has been an embarrassing chapter in Europe’s migrant crisis, and France announced this month that its densely populated southern half would be razed. The move prompted rights groups and migrant advocates to sue.
The court in Lille ruled that the makeshift shelters used by the migrants can be destroyed — but that common spaces like places of worship, schools and a library must stand.
The court in Lille ruled that the makeshift shelters used by the migrants can be destroyed — but that common spaces like places of worship, schools and a library must be left standing.
Demolition crews have been poised to start what officials say will be a better solution for migrants trapped in Calais with borders all but sealed by increasing security.
Calais’ prime location — with a major ferry port, Eurotunnel rail system and truck traffic crossing the English Channel — has put it in the crosshairs of the migrant crisis. Weary travelers come driven by a dream that they will find peace and prosperity in English-speaking Britain. Lacking any papers, they have to sneak across the Channel, and at least 20 migrants have died trying since late June.
Officials estimate the number of migrants who will be affected at around 800 to 1,000. Humanitarian organizations say over 3,000 migrants live there.
Officials say moving migrants out of the Calais slum will be a better solution for all, since many have been languishing in poverty and hopelessness after nearby borders have been sealed by increasing security. Officials estimate the number of migrants who will be affected at 800 to 1,000, while humanitarian organizations say over 3,000 migrants live there.
Moving the migrants out of the mini-slum will be the most dramatic step by the French state to end Calais’ years-long migrant problem, which has transformed the northern city into a high-security tension point, fueled far-right sentiment and defied British and French government efforts to make it go away. Critics contend that closing the camp may not solve the problem.
Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve lauded the court’s decision, saying it “fully supported” the government’s strategy for dealing with the camp.
The same court in Lille ordered the state in November to clean up the camp by adding running water, toilets and garbage bins, and counting the number of minors without families — now 326 — and help those in distress.
“It has never been our intention to send in bulldozers to destroy the camp,” Cazeneuve added.
Saving the migrants’ temporary homes from bulldozers became a mass effort by volunteers, humanitarian groups and a dose of star power. British actor Jude Law paid a visit last weekend and 260 French figures signed a petition against destroying the camp.
Another filthy camp known as a haven for smugglers near Dunkirk, France, is being relocated to a more hygienic site with heated tents under the supervision of the charity group Doctors Without Borders.
In announcing plans to close the camp, authorities cited security and sanitation concerns and the increasingly tarnished image of Calais, a city of nearly 80,000 that takes pride in drawing tourists to its Opal Coast. Its prime location — with a major ferry port, Eurotunnel rail system and truck traffic crossing the English Channel — has put it in the crosshairs of the migrant crisis.
Moving the migrants out will be France’s most dramatic step yet to end Calais’ yearslong migrant problem, which has transformed the city of nearly 80,000 into a high-security tension point, fueled far-right sentiment and defied British and French efforts to make the issue go away.
Residents have mostly learned to live with migrants in their midst. But tensions rose when the camp’s population spiked to 6,000 last fall before dropping to 4,000 more recently.
The same court in Lille ordered the state in November to clean up the camp by adding running water, toilets and garbage bins, count the number of minors without families — now 326 — and help those in distress.
An increasingly vocal backlash is punctuated by militia-style violence. Truckers have grown exasperated or fearful of increasingly bold tactics by migrants trying to sneak rides across the English Channel.
As of late, however, an increasingly vocal backlash against the Calais migrants has been punctuated by militia-style violence. Truckers have grown exasperated or fearful of increasingly bold migrants trying to sneak rides across the English Channel.
The area targeted for destruction is dotted with rickety shops, cafes, places of worship and schools, built by aid groups and the migrants, most of whom traveled from conflict zones like Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan, or came to escape human rights abuses or poverty in African nations.
A sense of anxiety mounted in the camp Thursday ahead of the court ruling. Nearby Belgium, concerned about an influx of Calais evacuees, implemented border checks.
A sense of anxiety mounted in the camp ahead of the court ruling.
“Obviously, they are scared and concerned about what is going to happen,” said Ed Sexton of Help Refugees, one of numerous British charities working in the slum. “The people have been here months, living in terrible conditions, but they don’t want their shelters destroyed.”
“Obviously, they are scared and concerned about what is going to happen,” said Ed Sexton, of Help Refugees, one of numerous British associations working in the camp. “The people have been here months, living in terrible conditions, but they don’t want their shelters destroyed.”
Camp residents were offered the choice of being sent to temporary welcome centers around France, or staying in one of 125 heated containers set up last month behind the camp.
Weary travelers come to Calais driven by a dream — circulated among migrants, peddled by smugglers — that they will find peace and prosperity in Britain. Lacking papers, they have to sneak across the Channel, and at least 20 migrants have died trying since late June, according to authorities.
Humanitarian workers predicted those who refuse to leave would simply gather in small groups elsewhere around Calais and the northern French coast.
Camp residents were offered the choice of being sent to temporary welcome centers around France, or staying in one of 125 heated containers set up last month in a fenced-in area behind the camp.
“You’re basically going to scatter a lot of people,” said Maya Konforti of the group Migrant Shelters.
“It’s inhuman to live in the jungle. But certain associations, certain billionaire stars are telling us to leave things alone,” the head of the region, conservative Xavier Bertrand, said during a visit last weekend. “That’s enough. The jungle must be evacuated.”
An Afghan who identified himself only as Jan said he would look elsewhere if the Calais migrant camp was closed.
Humanitarian workers predicted that those who refuse to leave would shelter in small groups elsewhere around Calais and the coast.
“They are the government ... we can’t fight them,” he said.
“You’re basically going to scatter a lot of people,” said Maya Konforti of the association Auberge des Migrants.
It’s far from certain, however, that razing the slum will be a turning point for Calais.
An Afghan who identified himself only as Jan said he would look elsewhere for a shelter if Calais were closed.
A Red Cross-run camp in nearby Sangatte — which was used during its three-year existence by 68,000 refugees — was shut down in 2002. Afterward, hundreds of migrants simply moved up the coast to set up small camps around Calais.
“They are the government ... we can’t fight with them,” he said.
Nearby Belgium, concerned about an influx of Calais evacuees, has implemented border checks.
Another filthy camp known as a haven for smugglers, near Dunkirk, France, is being relocated to a more hygienic site with heated tents under the supervision of Doctors Without Borders.
The prefecture, which announced plans to raze the camp on Feb. 12, said bulldozers would not touch the camp’s makeshift churches, mosques and a just-opened school. Facing criticism of the eviction order, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve softened the ultimatum this week, saying the evacuation would be “progressive.”
Authorities view the razing of much of the camp as a turning point for Calais, but that’s a far from certain outcome.
A Red Cross-run camp in nearby Sangatte — used during its three-year existence by some 68,000 refugees — was shut down in 2002. Afterward, hundreds moved up the coast to set up small camps around Calais.
Authorities periodically razed them, then opened a state-sponsored day center in April with showers, plugs to charge phones and a meal distribution center. That lured migrants chased from inside the city, who pitched camp nearby.
Authorities allowed the camp to grow, and it evolved into a squalid slum town with some amenities of urban life that injected a sense of solidarity and conviviality into migrants’ bleak lives.
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Ganley reported from Paris. Ben Barnier in Calais contributed to this report.
Ganley reported from Paris. Ben Barnier in Calais contributed to this report.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
