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Judge gives go-ahead to demolish part of Jungle refugee camp in Calais Judge gives go-ahead to demolish part of Jungle refugee camp in Calais
(35 minutes later)
A French judge has upheld government plans to bulldoze a large area of the makeshift Jungle camp for migrants and refugees on the outskirts of Calais.A French judge has upheld government plans to bulldoze a large area of the makeshift Jungle camp for migrants and refugees on the outskirts of Calais.
Earlier this month, the top official in the Pas-de-Calais region, Fabienne Buccio, ordered the evacuation and demolition of the 7-hectare southern part of the sprawling camp, used as a temporary home by migrants and refugees trying to reach Britain. Earlier this month, the top official in the Pas-de-Calais region, Fabienne Buccio, ordered the evacuation and demolition of the seven-hectare (17-acre) southern part of the sprawling camp, used as a temporary home by people trying to reach Britain.
But a group of charities, including Help Refugees and L’Auberge de Migrants, filed an urgent appeal to a tribunal asking it to suspend the planned evacuation and demolition until safe and appropriate alternatives had been found for its residents, particularly unaccompanied minors. Related: Jungle refugee camp demolition decision postponed
A census carried out by the charities recorded 3,455 refugees and migrants living there – almost three times the prefecture’s estimate of 800-1000. Help Refugees estimated that 445 were children, 300 of them unaccompanied. CitizensUK, which backed a successful court case resulting in four Syrians entering the UK from the camp, claim at least 50 unaccompanied children living there may have a legal right to be in the UK, because they have relatives in Britain. But a group of charities, including Help Refugees and L’Auberge des Migrants, filed an urgent appeal to a tribunal asking it to suspend the planned evacuation and demolition until safe and appropriate alternatives had been found for its residents, particularly unaccompanied minors.
A census carried out by the charities recorded 3,455 people living there: almost three times the prefecture’s estimate of 800-1,000. Help Refugees estimated that 445 were children, 300 of them unaccompanied. Citizens UK, which backed a successful court case resulting in four Syrians entering the UK from the camp, claims at least 50 unaccompanied children living there may have a legal right to be in the UK, because they have relatives in Britain.
A spokesman for the Pas-de-Calais prefect’s office said on Thursday: “The order is applicable, except for common social areas.”A spokesman for the Pas-de-Calais prefect’s office said on Thursday: “The order is applicable, except for common social areas.”
At the court hearing two days ago, a representative for the prefecture told the tribunal there was sufficient space to house the refugees in the northern part of the camp, in 125 newly installed heated containers and in tents. They were also free to go to 98 refugee reception areas around France, the tribunal was told.At the court hearing two days ago, a representative for the prefecture told the tribunal there was sufficient space to house the refugees in the northern part of the camp, in 125 newly installed heated containers and in tents. They were also free to go to 98 refugee reception areas around France, the tribunal was told.
An official deadline for at least 1,000 migrants to leave the southern part of the camp expired on Tuesday, to give time for a judge to visit the camp. The authorities have said they will use force if necessary to move the refugee and migrants to alternative accommodation. An official deadline for at least 1,000 migrants to leave the southern part of the camp expired on Tuesday, to give time for a judge to visit the camp. The authorities have said they will use force if necessary to move the residents to alternative accommodation.