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A Fight, and a Fire, Roll Through a Migrant Camp in France A Fight, and a Fire, Roll Through a Migrant Camp in France
(35 minutes later)
PARIS — It began with an argument, the latest between Afghan and Kurdish refugees living side by side in a camp in northern France. PARIS — It began with an argument, the latest between Afghan and Kurdish migrants living side by side in a camp in northern France.
This dispute, however, was different. After the fight Monday night came a fire that devastated the collection of wooden barracks on the outskirts of Grande-Synthe, near the port of Dunkirk, and forced 1,500 people to flee into the surrounding fields.This dispute, however, was different. After the fight Monday night came a fire that devastated the collection of wooden barracks on the outskirts of Grande-Synthe, near the port of Dunkirk, and forced 1,500 people to flee into the surrounding fields.
By dawn, all that remained were a few makeshift homes among smoldering ashes and a plume of smoke.By dawn, all that remained were a few makeshift homes among smoldering ashes and a plume of smoke.
The Dunkirk police commissioner had opened an investigation “into the origins and those responsible for the events,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The Dunkirk police commissioner has opened an investigation “into the origins and those responsible for the events,” the Interior Ministry said in a statement.
About a dozen people were left with minor injuries after the fight, local officials said, which they described as an uprising in which a few refugees set fire to the camp with the intention of destroying it. It took 60 firefighters to bring the flames under control. About a dozen people were left with minor injuries after the fight, local officials said, which they described as an uprising in which a few migrants set fire to the camp with the intention of destroying it. It took 60 firefighters to bring the flames under control.
The facility in Grande-Synthe was one of only three official humanitarian camps that provide shelter to refugees in France, intended mainly for temporary stays, along with a network of reception and orientation centers across the country for people planning to remain in France.The facility in Grande-Synthe was one of only three official humanitarian camps that provide shelter to refugees in France, intended mainly for temporary stays, along with a network of reception and orientation centers across the country for people planning to remain in France.
The Grande-Synthe camp provided wooden barracks, toilets, communal kitchens, a government office to apply for asylum and school services for children. The other two camps, each housing a few hundred people, are on the periphery of Paris.The Grande-Synthe camp provided wooden barracks, toilets, communal kitchens, a government office to apply for asylum and school services for children. The other two camps, each housing a few hundred people, are on the periphery of Paris.
France, which like countries across Europe has been struggling to accommodate the huge influx of migrants trying to flee war and poverty, granted asylum to more than 36,000 people in 2016, and nearly 230,000 are living in the country under asylum protection, according to an annual report from the French Bureau to Protect Refugees. France — which, like countries across Europe has been struggling to accommodate the huge influx of migrants trying to flee war and poverty — granted asylum to more than 36,000 people last year, and nearly 230,000 are living in the country under asylum protection, according to an annual report from the French Bureau to Protect Refugees.
But the goal for many undocumented refugees in France is to head elsewhere, notably to Britain. Dozens of smaller, unofficial refugee camps have popped up, primarily in northern France along the highway routes toward Calais, from which refugees try to hide on trucks headed for Britain. “They’ve been doing that for decades here,” said Olivier Caremelle, a spokesman for the Grande-Synthe mayor. But the goal for many undocumented migrants in France is to head elsewhere, notably to Britain. Dozens of smaller, unofficial camps have popped up, primarily in northern France along the highway routes toward Calais, from which migrants try to hide on trucks headed for Britain. “They’ve been doing that for decades here,” said Olivier Caremelle, a spokesman for the Grande-Synthe mayor.
The refugee camp in Grande-Synthe, a town of 23,400 people, is about 25 miles from a camp in Calais, known as the Jungle, that was shut down in October. The camp in Grande-Synthe, a town of 23,400 people, is about 25 miles from a camp in Calais, known as the Jungle, that was shut down in October.
Government employees working at the camp in Grande-Synthe said that until November, the camp’s population had consisted mainly of Iraqis, Kurds and Syrians. The closing of the Calais camp led to the arrival of Afghans in Grande-Synthe, creating overpopulation and tensions with the Kurds. Government employees working at the camp in Grande-Synthe said that until November, its population had consisted mainly of Iraqis, Kurds and Syrians. The closing of the Calais camp led to the arrival of Afghans in Grande-Synthe, creating overpopulation and tensions with the Kurds.
“In the last two months, we noticed several incidents between the two communities,” Mr. Caremelle said. “The Afghans were housed in the kitchen quarters of the camp, and they started to transform the kitchen into their dormitories. That’s what yesterday’s fight was about.”“In the last two months, we noticed several incidents between the two communities,” Mr. Caremelle said. “The Afghans were housed in the kitchen quarters of the camp, and they started to transform the kitchen into their dormitories. That’s what yesterday’s fight was about.”
By noon on Tuesday, as many as 600 refugees, mainly women and children, had found shelter in one of three local community halls, while others camped outside. About a thousand other refugees were still unaccounted for, Mr. Caremelle said. By noon on Tuesday, as many as 600 migrants, mainly women and children, had found shelter in one of three local community halls, while others camped outside. About a thousand others were still unaccounted for, Mr. Caremelle said.
“Mainly the single men: They may be hiding, in the vicinity of the camp, in Grande-Synthe, or may have gone to Calais, to Belgium, or to Paris, or one of the port towns,” Mr. Caremelle said. “They’re free to move. This is not an internment camp.”“Mainly the single men: They may be hiding, in the vicinity of the camp, in Grande-Synthe, or may have gone to Calais, to Belgium, or to Paris, or one of the port towns,” Mr. Caremelle said. “They’re free to move. This is not an internment camp.”