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| Authorities spend third day demolishing Calais refugee camp | |
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| French authorities are spending a third day gradually dismantling the makeshift migrant camp in Calais, as official figures showed that so far just a handful of residents have taken up the chance to move to more permanent centres elsewhere in France. | French authorities are spending a third day gradually dismantling the makeshift migrant camp in Calais, as official figures showed that so far just a handful of residents have taken up the chance to move to more permanent centres elsewhere in France. |
| Calais prefecture said 72 people among the estimated 3,500 in the affected region of the “Jungle” camp agreed to move to accommodation centres elsewhere in France during the first two days of demolition work. | Calais prefecture said 72 people among the estimated 3,500 in the affected region of the “Jungle” camp agreed to move to accommodation centres elsewhere in France during the first two days of demolition work. |
| Separately, a study by a French charity association indicated that even when people do go to such centres, about a quarter later return to Calais or other destinations. It also showed that almost half of these centres are due to close by the end of the month. | Separately, a study by a French charity association indicated that even when people do go to such centres, about a quarter later return to Calais or other destinations. It also showed that almost half of these centres are due to close by the end of the month. |
| Work crews, protected by hundreds of riot police, continued the painstaking job of knocking down the wood-framed shelters lived in by many people, using power tools to level them before diggers scoop the debris into giant skips. | Work crews, protected by hundreds of riot police, continued the painstaking job of knocking down the wood-framed shelters lived in by many people, using power tools to level them before diggers scoop the debris into giant skips. |
| On Monday, the first day of demolition at the camp, clashes broke out in the evening, but Tuesday was calmer, beyond a small number of shacks burning to the ground. It is not known who set them alight. | On Monday, the first day of demolition at the camp, clashes broke out in the evening, but Tuesday was calmer, beyond a small number of shacks burning to the ground. It is not known who set them alight. |
| On Wednesday, the work appeared to be progressing peacefully, though some reports said people were again sitting on the roofs of shacks to try to delay the process, and that others had sewn their lips shut to protest against their treatment. | On Wednesday, the work appeared to be progressing peacefully, though some reports said people were again sitting on the roofs of shacks to try to delay the process, and that others had sewn their lips shut to protest against their treatment. |
| Rooftop protests, bulldozers - another day in #CalaisJungle pic.twitter.com/rD5i1Q3rVz | Rooftop protests, bulldozers - another day in #CalaisJungle pic.twitter.com/rD5i1Q3rVz |
| According to a census carried out by refugee groups last month, there were just under 3,500 people living in the main part of the camp, including about 300 unaccompanied children. | According to a census carried out by refugee groups last month, there were just under 3,500 people living in the main part of the camp, including about 300 unaccompanied children. |
| However, the Calais prefecture, which is leading the demolition, says just 800 to 1,000 people live in this section, and that there is space elsewhere for all of them to move. | However, the Calais prefecture, which is leading the demolition, says just 800 to 1,000 people live in this section, and that there is space elsewhere for all of them to move. |
| “Can you imagine if we destroyed the whole camp without providing alternatives for migrants?” a spokesman for the prefecture said, calling the demolition a “humanitarian operation”. | “Can you imagine if we destroyed the whole camp without providing alternatives for migrants?” a spokesman for the prefecture said, calling the demolition a “humanitarian operation”. |
| The spokesman added that it was not known exactly how many people had left their shelters so far. | The spokesman added that it was not known exactly how many people had left their shelters so far. |
| Authorities are offering three options for those being moved out. The first is a purpose-built compound of converted shipping containers just north of the main site. These are heated and have plumbing, but some migrants mistrust the system to enter the site, which involves opening a turnstile with a handprint. There are also fewer than 150 places left. | Authorities are offering three options for those being moved out. The first is a purpose-built compound of converted shipping containers just north of the main site. These are heated and have plumbing, but some migrants mistrust the system to enter the site, which involves opening a turnstile with a handprint. There are also fewer than 150 places left. |
| The authorities have also set up large marquee-type tents, to which some of those evicted have gone. Volunteers say these are so cold people need to sleep inside smaller tents set up inside. | The authorities have also set up large marquee-type tents, to which some of those evicted have gone. Volunteers say these are so cold people need to sleep inside smaller tents set up inside. |
| The final option is going to an accommodation centre elsewhere in France. A spokesman for the prefecture said 43 people left the camp on coaches to centres in the southern cities of Bordeaux and Montpellier. On Monday, 29 went to the Savoie and the Alps region. | The final option is going to an accommodation centre elsewhere in France. A spokesman for the prefecture said 43 people left the camp on coaches to centres in the southern cities of Bordeaux and Montpellier. On Monday, 29 went to the Savoie and the Alps region. |
| People arriving in Bordeaux were being taken to Le Bouscat – a suburb with a population of 20,000 – a city spokeswoman said. | People arriving in Bordeaux were being taken to Le Bouscat – a suburb with a population of 20,000 – a city spokeswoman said. |
| A study by FNARS, a grouping of French charitable groups, said it had found a total of 102 such centres scattered around the country. Of the 27 centres who responded to the survey, they said that about a quarter of people relocated to them had since left, some back to Calais. | A study by FNARS, a grouping of French charitable groups, said it had found a total of 102 such centres scattered around the country. Of the 27 centres who responded to the survey, they said that about a quarter of people relocated to them had since left, some back to Calais. |
| Poor communication was given as the leading cause of departures, with some centres reported migrants were given little information about the French asylum process, often without translators. | Poor communication was given as the leading cause of departures, with some centres reported migrants were given little information about the French asylum process, often without translators. |
| Almost half of the units surveyed are due to close down by the end of the winter, with a deadline of 31 March, the study said, with more than 200 refugees currently lacking anywhere else to go. | Almost half of the units surveyed are due to close down by the end of the winter, with a deadline of 31 March, the study said, with more than 200 refugees currently lacking anywhere else to go. |
| Many in the Calais camp are resistant from moving away, having come to the northern French coast in the hope of reaching the UK on board one of the lorries that pass by an adjoining – and now heavily fenced – road towards the ferry port. | Many in the Calais camp are resistant from moving away, having come to the northern French coast in the hope of reaching the UK on board one of the lorries that pass by an adjoining – and now heavily fenced – road towards the ferry port. |
| The demolition work began again on Wednesday with police banging on the side of shacks, shouting: “You need to get out, the demolition is starting.” | The demolition work began again on Wednesday with police banging on the side of shacks, shouting: “You need to get out, the demolition is starting.” |
| Smouldering piles marked places where shelters were burned down overnight. | Smouldering piles marked places where shelters were burned down overnight. |
| The dismantling process has been slowed in part by the fact that a lot of the wooden shacks are so well built. Many were designed and constructed by professional staff from the British theatre and events industries, who brought them to Calais as flatpack shelters under the Crew for Calais banner. | The dismantling process has been slowed in part by the fact that a lot of the wooden shacks are so well built. Many were designed and constructed by professional staff from the British theatre and events industries, who brought them to Calais as flatpack shelters under the Crew for Calais banner. |
| During a visit to the camp on Tuesday, the Conservative MP David Burrowes highlighted the plight of children there, hearing an Afghan boy plead with the British government to offer him asylum. | During a visit to the camp on Tuesday, the Conservative MP David Burrowes highlighted the plight of children there, hearing an Afghan boy plead with the British government to offer him asylum. |
| “You should take these guys – they are very small. They have destroyed houses and shops, so you should think about that,” the boy said in a video uploaded by Burrowes. | “You should take these guys – they are very small. They have destroyed houses and shops, so you should think about that,” the boy said in a video uploaded by Burrowes. |
| Asked why he felt unsafe at the camp, the boy showed Burrowes a bandaged hand and said: “Everyday they hit us. So the government from France is not good for us. [There is] no safety here, the police are not good with us.” | Asked why he felt unsafe at the camp, the boy showed Burrowes a bandaged hand and said: “Everyday they hit us. So the government from France is not good for us. [There is] no safety here, the police are not good with us.” |