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| Calais officials: refugee camp demolition most humane option | Calais officials: refugee camp demolition most humane option |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| French authorities have expressed alarm after several people sewed their lips together in protest against the partial destruction of the Calais refugee camp, but said its demolition remained the most humane option. | French authorities have expressed alarm after several people sewed their lips together in protest against the partial destruction of the Calais refugee camp, but said its demolition remained the most humane option. |
| Up to eight Iranian residents of the camp sewed up their lips with thread on Wednesday to protest against the gradual destruction of much of the site, with work beginning in an area predominantly inhabited by Iranians. | Up to eight Iranian residents of the camp sewed up their lips with thread on Wednesday to protest against the gradual destruction of much of the site, with work beginning in an area predominantly inhabited by Iranians. |
| In a statement on Thursday morning the Calais prefecture said some residents – it put the number at only two – “chose to mutilate themselves by sewing up their lips. Such events can only provoke strong emotions, and everything will be done to ensure these people are given proper care. | In a statement on Thursday morning the Calais prefecture said some residents – it put the number at only two – “chose to mutilate themselves by sewing up their lips. Such events can only provoke strong emotions, and everything will be done to ensure these people are given proper care. |
| “However, nothing justifies such extreme measures, while authorities are doing their utmost to remove migrants from the disgraceful conditions they face in the south of the camp.” | “However, nothing justifies such extreme measures, while authorities are doing their utmost to remove migrants from the disgraceful conditions they face in the south of the camp.” |
| Calais authorities first sent in work crews, protected by lines of riot police, on Monday to begin dismantling the southern section of the camp, where the bulk of people live. Officials say no more than 1,000 people are based there, but refugee groups say a census last week put the figure at almost 3,500. | Calais authorities first sent in work crews, protected by lines of riot police, on Monday to begin dismantling the southern section of the camp, where the bulk of people live. Officials say no more than 1,000 people are based there, but refugee groups say a census last week put the figure at almost 3,500. |
| In the statement, the prefecture said everyone moved from their homes, mainly wood-framed shacks, would have a place to live, either elsewhere in the camp or at one of dozens of accommodation centres elsewhere around France. | In the statement, the prefecture said everyone moved from their homes, mainly wood-framed shacks, would have a place to live, either elsewhere in the camp or at one of dozens of accommodation centres elsewhere around France. |
| Many residents are reluctant to leave Calais, having travelled there in the hope of reaching the UK via lorries which drive past an adjoining road en route to the ferry port. | Many residents are reluctant to leave Calais, having travelled there in the hope of reaching the UK via lorries which drive past an adjoining road en route to the ferry port. |
| Related: Sorry, France, but razing the Calais ‘Jungle’ is not humanitarian | Clare Moseley | Related: Sorry, France, but razing the Calais ‘Jungle’ is not humanitarian | Clare Moseley |
| However, French officials have blamed activists, some of them British, for inflaming trouble. In an interview earlier this week the Calais prefect, Fabienne Buccio, blamed some unrest in the camp on “extremist” activists in the No Borders group, saying they “manipulate” some refugees into causing trouble. | However, French officials have blamed activists, some of them British, for inflaming trouble. In an interview earlier this week the Calais prefect, Fabienne Buccio, blamed some unrest in the camp on “extremist” activists in the No Borders group, saying they “manipulate” some refugees into causing trouble. |
| The prefecture statement echoed this point: “Misinformation and extremist rhetoric, which distort the reality of the planned solutions, create a climate of irrational and unjustified tension, even as we devote all our energies to providing relief and assistance to migrants in need of help.” | The prefecture statement echoed this point: “Misinformation and extremist rhetoric, which distort the reality of the planned solutions, create a climate of irrational and unjustified tension, even as we devote all our energies to providing relief and assistance to migrants in need of help.” |
| No Borders, a loose international collective associated with anarchist beliefs and which operates in the camp under the banner of Calais Migrant Solidarity, has a policy of rarely speaking to the media. | No Borders, a loose international collective associated with anarchist beliefs and which operates in the camp under the banner of Calais Migrant Solidarity, has a policy of rarely speaking to the media. |
| In asking for a comment, the Guardian was directed to a section of the group’s website where it said the claims of troublemaking were an attempt to “delegitimise” the protests. “There is a deep racism in these lies which imply that ‘those people in the jungle’ cannot organise themselves, but rather need white/European leadership.” | In asking for a comment, the Guardian was directed to a section of the group’s website where it said the claims of troublemaking were an attempt to “delegitimise” the protests. “There is a deep racism in these lies which imply that ‘those people in the jungle’ cannot organise themselves, but rather need white/European leadership.” |
| Authorities say that overall more than 2,800 people have gone to accommodation centres away from Calais so far, with 80% of these having since applied for asylum in France. | Authorities say that overall more than 2,800 people have gone to accommodation centres away from Calais so far, with 80% of these having since applied for asylum in France. |
| However, in the first two days of the eviction process only 72 residents took buses provided to these centres. Volunteers in the camp said many of those who lost their homes would either remain but in worse living conditions, or go elsewhere along the northern coast. | However, in the first two days of the eviction process only 72 residents took buses provided to these centres. Volunteers in the camp said many of those who lost their homes would either remain but in worse living conditions, or go elsewhere along the northern coast. |
| Reports in France have noted the presence of a small but growing refugee camp in the port of Dieppe, with about 100 people having tried to board ferries despite there being far fewer daily sailings than from Calais. | |
| James Hookham of the Freight Transport Association said the demolition of the Calais camp had not sparked a greater incidence of migrants trying to get aboard UK-bound lorries, with traffic speed a bigger factor. | |
| “It’s the same as it always is, really,” he said. “It’s been going on for years in one respect or another. The problem has never really gone away. Delays to the port and the speed of the traffic on the approach road, that often dictates if there’s an uptick in efforts. If there’s a queue on the motorway these seem to increase.” | |
| Lorry drivers in Dieppe were not facing many problems, he added, seemingly because of the less frequent sailings and the relative lack of congestion on nearby roads. |