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Calais migrant crisis: 'Many have died here … but it will not stop us' Calais migrant crisis: 'Many have died here … but it will not stop us'
(about 1 hour later)
As a line of police move up to clear a section of the security fence surrounding the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais in the early hours of Thursday morning Abdul watches from the grass verge. As a line of police move up to clear a section of the security fence surrounding the Eurotunnel terminal in Calais in the early hours of Thursday morning, Abdul watches from the grass verge.
Related: Calais crisis: Cameron pledges to deport more people to end 'swarm' of migrantsRelated: Calais crisis: Cameron pledges to deport more people to end 'swarm' of migrants
The 17-year-old from Eritrea has spent most nights for the past six weeks trying to find a way into the terminal and onto a train or lorry bound for the UK. But this morning his heart is not in it. The 17-year-old from Eritrea has spent most nights for the past six weeks trying to find a way into the terminal and on to a train or lorry bound for the UK. But this morning his heart is not in it.
“A friend of mine, Omar, died there last week,” he says, pointing through the fence. “He climbed onto a train and then it began to move and he fell off and he died.” “A friend of mine, Omar, died there last week,” he says, pointing through the fence. “He climbed on to a train and then it began to move and he fell off and he died.”
The death is one of at least eight in the past two months as thousands of people who have fled war and poverty beyond’s Europe’s borders take ever greater risks to get to the UK. On Wednesday French police confirmed a Sudanese man in his 20s had died, with two more people badly injured, but migrants say many more fatalities go unpublicised.The death is one of at least eight in the past two months as thousands of people who have fled war and poverty beyond’s Europe’s borders take ever greater risks to get to the UK. On Wednesday French police confirmed a Sudanese man in his 20s had died, with two more people badly injured, but migrants say many more fatalities go unpublicised.
On Thursday morning scores of migrants engage in a potentially deadly game of cat and mouse along the several kilometres of fencing that surrounds the terminal. Groups of up to 30 or 40 people gather, looking for an unguarded section or potential weak point. Moments later the police arrive with flashing sirens and a tense stand-off ensues. On Thursday morning scores of migrants engaged in a potentially deadly game of cat and mouse along the several kilometres of fencing that surrounds the terminal. Groups of up to 30 or 40 people gathered, looking for an unguarded section or potential weak point. Moments later the police arrived with flashing sirens and a tense stand-off ensued.
“There are too many police and too many journalists tonight,” says Ali, 18, from Sudan, who has been in Calais for two months. “Last night many people got in, but it is getting more and more difficult.”“There are too many police and too many journalists tonight,” says Ali, 18, from Sudan, who has been in Calais for two months. “Last night many people got in, but it is getting more and more difficult.”
Calais increasingly resembles a fortress. Hundreds of metres of high fences topped with razor wire are being erected along the motorways, while more fences and a new secure parking zone have been promised.Calais increasingly resembles a fortress. Hundreds of metres of high fences topped with razor wire are being erected along the motorways, while more fences and a new secure parking zone have been promised.
The situation here is part of the wider crisis that has seen more than 185,000 people cross the Mediterranean into southern Europe since January. Most will try to claim asylum in other EU countries – Germany and Sweden top the list, with the UK more than halfway down. But some will end up among the 3,000 people here risking their lives to get to the UK.The situation here is part of the wider crisis that has seen more than 185,000 people cross the Mediterranean into southern Europe since January. Most will try to claim asylum in other EU countries – Germany and Sweden top the list, with the UK more than halfway down. But some will end up among the 3,000 people here risking their lives to get to the UK.
Eurotunnel says the situation at the terminal outside Calais has become unmanageable as migrants make repeated attempts to break into the compound and on to lorries and trains. British politicians have reacted by promising increased funding to secure the terminal with more surveillance and extra fencing.Eurotunnel says the situation at the terminal outside Calais has become unmanageable as migrants make repeated attempts to break into the compound and on to lorries and trains. British politicians have reacted by promising increased funding to secure the terminal with more surveillance and extra fencing.
But at dusk on Wednesday, as a steady stream of people – including women and young children – set out on the two-hour walk from the “jungle” to the Eurotunnel terminal, it appeared they were still some way from delivering on that promise. But at dusk on Wednesday, as a steady stream of people – including women and young children – set out on the two-hour walk from the “jungle” to the Eurotunnel terminal, it appeared that they were still some way from delivering on that promise.
A few miles from the terminal dozens of people could be seen squeezing through a hole in the fence lining the railway tracks leading towards the terminal. A police car drove past but did not stop. A few miles from the terminal dozens of people could be seen squeezing through a hole in the fence lining the railway tracks leading towards the Eurotunnel. A police car drove past but did not stop.
Others were walking up the tracks towards the terminal apparently unhindered by police or security officials.Others were walking up the tracks towards the terminal apparently unhindered by police or security officials.
Nearer the Eurotunnel, where the fence is higher and topped with barbed wire, crowds of migrants – many of whom said they were fleeing persecution in Eritrea or Sudan – gathered in groups along the perimeter. Others made camp fires to keep warm.Nearer the Eurotunnel, where the fence is higher and topped with barbed wire, crowds of migrants – many of whom said they were fleeing persecution in Eritrea or Sudan – gathered in groups along the perimeter. Others made camp fires to keep warm.
Some did make it over the first fence but were stopped before they could clamber over a channel full of barbed wire and a second fence beyond that. Many more shouted encouragement from the sides. Others were surrounded by officers with dogs and batons and forcibly moved on.Some did make it over the first fence but were stopped before they could clamber over a channel full of barbed wire and a second fence beyond that. Many more shouted encouragement from the sides. Others were surrounded by officers with dogs and batons and forcibly moved on.
But for Abdul, who was with a large group of Eritrean teenagers, there was more to think about. “Many people have died here, you hear about it all the time in the jungle. But we have a lot of death and war in our country so it will not stop us.”But for Abdul, who was with a large group of Eritrean teenagers, there was more to think about. “Many people have died here, you hear about it all the time in the jungle. But we have a lot of death and war in our country so it will not stop us.”
He paused before adding: “I will come back tomorrow and try again. There is no life for me here.”He paused before adding: “I will come back tomorrow and try again. There is no life for me here.”