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France begins operation to clear Calais refugee camp France begins operation to clear Calais refugee camp
(about 2 hours later)
An operation to clear the Calais refugee camp has begun, as the first of 60 French government buses left the northern port town, transporting refuges and migrants to accommodation centres elsewhere in the country. An operation to clear the Calais refugee camp has begun, as the first of 60 French government buses left the northern port town, transporting refugees and migrants to accommodation centres elsewhere in the country.
Queues of people dragging their few possessions in donated holdalls had begun forming in the dark pre-dawn outside a warehouse where processing was taking place. Queues of people carrying their few possessions, some in donated holdalls, had begun forming before dawn outside a warehouse where processing took place.
As the gates opened people surged towards the warehouse, with no idea where they were to be transported to, but having been warned they must leave the camp or risk arrest and deportation. As the gates opened people surged towards the warehouse, with no idea where they were to be taken but having been warned they must leave or risk arrest and deportation.
The clear-out operation began in a peaceful and orderly fashion, in contrast to scenes at the weekend when there were violent clashes, with camp residents throwing stones at French riot police who retaliated with teargas. The Home Office confirmed that the transfer of vulnerable children to the UK had been temporarily halted while the camp is demolished, apparently at the request of the French authorities. The home secretary, Amber Rudd, will update MPs later on Monday.
Police vans and fire engines were positioned on the perimeter of the camp as those being processed were herded into the warehouse before being put on one of the white buses taking them to centres across France. Ten buses had left by 9am BST, heading for destinations including Paris, Lyon and Marseille, the Guardian was told. The clearout began in a peaceful and orderly fashion, in contrast to the weekend when there were violent clashes, and camp residents threw stones at French riot police who retaliated with teargas.
Throughout the morning, a steady stream of buses departed the camp.
Police vans and fire engines were positioned on the perimeter as those choosing to leave were herded into the warehouse. They were then put on one of the white buses taking them to centres across France. Ten buses had left by 9am BST, heading for destinations including Paris, Lyon and Marseille.
The first coachload, carrying 50 Sudanese, left at 8.45am, and headed for the Burgundy region, French news agency AFP reported.
The dismantling of the camp began despite concerns about the safety of thousands of children and vulnerable adults living there.The dismantling of the camp began despite concerns about the safety of thousands of children and vulnerable adults living there.
The French aim to clear 3,000 adults and children from the centre on Monday as part of a major three-day operation to close the sprawling shanty town near Calais port. The authorities aim to relocate up to 10,000 people in total to specialist accommodation centres for formal registration and processing by the French and British authorities. Unaccompanied minors are believed to be the only group staying in Calais, where they will be taken to containers within a secure area of the camp previously housing adults.
Many of those queuing were Sudanese and Eritrean. As officers opened the gates people carrying holdalls, backpacks and trailing wheelies bags were guided in to lines. The French aim to clear 3,000 adults and children from the centre on Monday as part of a major three-day operation to close the sprawling camp. The aim is to relocate up to 10,000 people in total to specialist accommodation centres for formal registration and processing.
Those volunteering to leave were being asked to join one of four queues – adult, family, child, or vulnerable or disabled – then given a coloured wristband. The chief executive of the Port of Calais, Jean-Marc Puissesseau, described Monday’s operation as “the D-Day” and himself as a “very, very happy man”.
Many of those queuing were Sudanese and Eritrean. As officers opened the gates, people were guided into four queues – adult, family, child, or vulnerable or disabled – and given a coloured wristband.
Many were happy to leave. Among them Mohamed, 23, from Eritrea, who said: “The camp is dirty and dangerous.” He had been there for three months, he told the Guardian, and had tried to get asylum in France before.Many were happy to leave. Among them Mohamed, 23, from Eritrea, who said: “The camp is dirty and dangerous.” He had been there for three months, he told the Guardian, and had tried to get asylum in France before.
“My fingerprints were taken in Italy and where ever you go in Europe after that they say you have to go back to Italy under the Dublin regulation. Now they say for the first time the fingerprints don’t matter and we can start applying for asylum again. I am happy”. “My fingerprints were taken in Italy and wherever you go in Europe after that they say you have to go back to Italy under the Dublin regulation. Now they say for the first time the fingerprints don’t matter and we can start applying for asylum again. I am happy.”
He had been told the buses would go all over France, including Marseilles, Lyons and Paris.
Mohamed, from Darfur, who left his country 24 months ago, travelling though Libya then by boat to Italy, said he want to remain in France. He said he had spent 10 months in Holland, but was refused asylum there.
“They told me the colour of my skin was not from Sudan. I want to stay in France,” he said. He had spent the past three months in Calais. “It is dangerous, too many people. I am happy today to leave”.
Yusef, 35, a pharmacist from Sudan, who spent three months living rough in Calais and hopes to claim asylum in France, said he had no idea where he would end up. “I will close my eyes and put my finger on the map.”Yusef, 35, a pharmacist from Sudan, who spent three months living rough in Calais and hopes to claim asylum in France, said he had no idea where he would end up. “I will close my eyes and put my finger on the map.”
But he was optimistic. “I want to integrate to start a new life, contribute. I trust France to keep me safe. People misunderstand us. We don’t have economic problems, we’e fleeing violence and dictatorship”. Once he had hopes of making it to the UK. “But that dream died here,” he said. “That bridge is closed.” But he was optimistic. “I want to integrate to start a new life, contribute. I trust France to keep me safe.” Once he had hopes of making it to the UK. “But that dream died here,” he said. “That bridge is closed.”
Two Afghan men who had spent several months in the camp, and years travelling, said they had decided to go to Jalalabad. Hours before the evacuation, some people were still clinging to the hope of reaching the UK. “We have yet to convince some people to accept accommodation and give up their dream of Britain. That’s the hardest part,” Didier Leschi, head of the French immigration office OFII, told French news agency AFP.
They were awake before dawn and carrying the few possessions they had, they had to registers at the vast hangar. France has temporarily increased the aid to people wanting to make the journey to their countries. Some were concerned that if they joined the queue to be processed, they would not be able to join family in the UK. Tafsu, 48, a carpenter from Eritrea, has a wife and two children in London, including a nine-year-old daughter he has never met. “I don’t know what the future holds. I want to explain my case but I can’t get heard,” he said.
One, Muhammed, 26, said: “I’ve tried. I’ve taken so many risks trying to get on the back of lorries. Better to die in my own country then here under a truck.”
According to the British founder of the charity Care4Calais, the camp is likely to re-emerge despite its demolition. Clare Moseley said: “I think people will still come. With refugees, deterrents don’t matter because a refuge by definition is fleeing something. In February, they demolished over half the camp and yet here we are, seven months later, with a camp bigger than it’s ever been.”According to the British founder of the charity Care4Calais, the camp is likely to re-emerge despite its demolition. Clare Moseley said: “I think people will still come. With refugees, deterrents don’t matter because a refuge by definition is fleeing something. In February, they demolished over half the camp and yet here we are, seven months later, with a camp bigger than it’s ever been.”
In the past week, about 200 children have been brought to safety in the UK from the Calais camp, approximately 15% of the total number, according to a Citizens UK estimate. There has been scepticism in some parts of the media about the ages of some of the arrivals. Concerns over the fate of some 1,300 child migrants remained. Yvette Cooper, the Commons home affairs committee chair, said children in the camp were at risk from people traffickers. “That’s what’s really worrying, because once the clearances start we know there is a significant risk that many of those children and young people just disappear,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today.
Another 24 refugee children from Calais reached the UK on Sunday afternoon. They follow the 54 unaccompanied minors – mostly girls from Eritrea – who were the first to be brought to Britain on Saturday night under the Dubs amendment, the government’s pledge to help unaccompanied minors that was announced to parliament during the summer. In the past week, about 200 children have been brought to the UK from Calais, approximately 15% of the total, according to a Citizens UK estimate. There has been scepticism in some parts of the media about the ages of some of the arrivals.
The minors who arrived this week, including some who were reunited with relatives already in the UK, are the first of an estimated 1,300 unaccompanied children from the camp, which authorities say houses 7,000 people. Charities put the number closer to 10,000. Another 24 refugee children from Calais reached the UK on Sunday afternoon. They follow the 54 unaccompanied minors – mostly girls from Eritrea – who were the first to be brought to Britain under the Dubs amendment, the government’s pledge to help unaccompanied minors.
Immigration minister Robert Goodwill said in a statement that the government remained committed to safeguarding and protecting children in Calais and transferring “all eligible minors” to the UK as soon as possible. He said: “We are working closely with our French partners and the immediate priority is to ensure those who remain in the camp are provided with secure accommodation during the clearance operation. UK officials will continue to identify those eligible to come to Britain.”
An extra 3,000 police are expected in and around Calais this week. Migrants and refugees who do not want to claim asylum in France are expected to set up small camps in the region.An extra 3,000 police are expected in and around Calais this week. Migrants and refugees who do not want to claim asylum in France are expected to set up small camps in the region.
Almost two-thirds of people surveyed in the camp have said they do not want to be taken to French accommodation, while a third said they would continue to try to get into the UK, according to the Refugee Rights Data Project.Almost two-thirds of people surveyed in the camp have said they do not want to be taken to French accommodation, while a third said they would continue to try to get into the UK, according to the Refugee Rights Data Project.