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France begins operation to clear Calais refugee camp Hundreds leave Calais by bus on first day of operation to clear refugee camp
(about 1 hour 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 refugees and migrants to accommodation centres elsewhere in the country. Hundreds of migrants and refugees have left Calais on buses for accommodation centres elsewhere in France on the first day of an operation to clear and then demolish the refugee camp in the northern port town.
Queues of people carrying their few possessions, some in donated holdalls, had begun forming before dawn outside a warehouse where processing took 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 taken but having been warned they must leave 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 Home Office confirmed that the transfer of vulnerable children to the UK had been temporarily halted while the camp was being demolished, apparently at the request of the French authorities. The home secretary, Amber Rudd, will update MPs later on Monday. Four hours after the operation began, about 900 people had departed Calais on 23 buses. The process appeared orderly, though riot police did move in for a short time to control the queue as people started to push and shove at the front just before midday. A further 85 buses are expected to arrive on Tuesday and Wednesday.
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. In the UK, another 20 children, all male, arrived in Devon from the makeshift camp on Monday. They had left before a temporary halt was put on the transfer of vulnerable refugee children to the UK on Monday at the request of the French authorities while the clearance of the camp was underway. The UK home secretary, Amber Rudd, will update MPs later on Monday
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 scenes in Calais on Monday contrasted with violent clashes that took place over the weekend, as camp residents threw stones at French riot police who retaliated with teargas.
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.
The first coachload, carrying 50 Sudanese people, left at 8.45am, and headed for the Burgundy region, French news agency AFP reported.The first coachload, carrying 50 Sudanese people, 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.
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.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.
The French aim is 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.The French aim is 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.
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”.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 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 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.”“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.”
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.” 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.”
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.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.
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.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.
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.”
Concerns over the fate of some 1,300 children in the camp 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. Concerns over the fate of some 1,300 children in the camp 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 programme.
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.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.
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.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.”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.