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Concern grows for welfare of children as Calais camp cleared Concern grows for 'left-behind' child refugees as fires hit Calais camp
(35 minutes later)
The operation to clear residents from the sprawling makeshift refugee camp at Calais has finished ahead of schedule, French authorities have said, though charities said they were concerned for the welfare of children who remain in the area. The operation to clear residents from the sprawling makeshift refugee camp at Calais has finished ahead of schedule, French authorities have said, though charities raised concerns for the welfare of children who remain in the area.
“There are no more migrants in the camp. Our mission has been fulfilled,” said Fabienne Buccio, a local official. “There are no more migrants in the camp. Our mission has been fulfilled,” said Fabienne Buccio, a local official, on Wednesday.
Government buses taking refugees and migrants to relocation centres across France will stop at the end of the day on Wednesday, and demolition of the camp will be speeded up on Thursday, with larger machinery moving in, officials said. Government buses taking refugees and migrants to relocation centres across France will stop at the end of the day, and demolition of the camp will be speeded up on Thursday, with larger machinery moving in, officials said.
Tents and shelters were set ablaze as queuing continued for official registration to be resettled at the accommodation centres where many refugees hope to be able to claim asylum. Tents and shelters were set ablaze as people continued to queue for official registration to be resettled at the accommodation centres where many refugees hope to be able to claim asylum.
So far more then 5,000 people, who had come to Calais hoping to reach the UK, have been bussed out of the camp. So far, more than 5,000 people who had come to Calais hoping to reach the UK have been bussed out of the camp.
Save the Children said it was “extremely concerned” about children who had not been registered as parts of the camp went up in flames. About 100 children were still in the queue when the registration centres were “swiftly” closed, the charity said.Save the Children said it was “extremely concerned” about children who had not been registered as parts of the camp went up in flames. About 100 children were still in the queue when the registration centres were “swiftly” closed, the charity said.
Converted shipping containers set up near the camp to house children were full, and “hundreds” of children remained outside with nowhere to go, the charity added. Converted shipping containers set up near the camp to house children were full, and “hundreds” of youngsters remained outside with nowhere to go, the charity added.
Help Refugees said it had reports of up to 300 unaccompanied children being turned away from the registration centres with nowhere to stay. In a Facebook post it said children were being asked to return to the camp, parts of which were on fire and not safe. It said volunteers were trying to find places for the children to stay. Help Refugees said it had reports of up to 300 unaccompanied minors being turned away from the registration centres and sent back to the camp while fires were still smouldering. In a Facebook post, it also said volunteers were trying to find places for them to stay.
Riot police and fire crews moved quickly to extinguish fires as those departing set tents and shelters ablaze, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. The fires were blamed on disgruntled camp residents. Some of Help Refugees’ representatives said they could not stop some children running into the camp to collect their belonging as fires swept through. Josie Naughton, the charity’s co-founder, described the situation as a “humanitarian emergency”.
Pascal Brice, head of the Office for Refugees and Stateless People, told the Press Association: “The operation will be over tonight because all the people who were leaving the Jungle are now welcomed in France, in good conditions in accommodation centres. Charities have called on the local authorities to provide emergency shelter in a community hall or other appropriate building after attempts to persuade hotels to take minors in had failed.
“It is a matter of satisfaction for the French administration because all those people now are in centres all around France and the Jungle is over.” Riot police and fire crews moved quickly to extinguish flames as those departing set tents and shelters ablaze, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. The fires were blamed on disgruntled camp residents.
Pascal Brice, head of the Office for Refugees and Stateless People, told the Press Association: “The operation will be over tonight because all the people who were leaving the ‘Jungle’ are now welcomed in France, in good conditions in accommodation centres.
“It is a matter of satisfaction for the French administration because all those people now are in centres all around France and the [camp] is over.”
As French authorities indicated everyone in the camp had been registered, people could still be seen walking with their belongings towards the registration centre.As French authorities indicated everyone in the camp had been registered, people could still be seen walking with their belongings towards the registration centre.
There were four arrests, the Calais police commissioner, Patrick Visser-Bourdon, said.There were four arrests, the Calais police commissioner, Patrick Visser-Bourdon, said.
Hamid, 30, from Afghanistan, who said he had been among those setting fire to shelters, told Reuters news agency: “We don’t care about problems that are to come after this. We did it because we don’t want to stay in France. We want to go to England and England only. It doesn’t matter if I go to jail here.” Hamid, 30, from Afghanistan, who said he had been among those setting fire to shelters, told Reuters: “We don’t care about problems that are to come after this. We did it because we don’t want to stay in France. We want to go to England and England only. It doesn’t matter if I go to jail here.”
In London around 100 demonstrators, including the model Lily Cole, called on Britain to help more children caught up in the camp’s demolition. Protestors took to the Millennium Bridge, near St Paul’s Cathedral, carrying placards and large red hearts, urging the immediate resettlement of more children from the camp. In London, about 100 demonstrators, including the model Lily Cole, called on Britain to help more children caught up in the camp’s demolition. Protesters took to the Millennium Bridge, near St Paul’s Cathedral, carrying placards and large red hearts, urging the immediate resettlement of more children from the camp.