New ‘Jungle’ in Calais as migrants return in their fight to reach UK
A CAMP bearing a sign saying “refugees welcome” has sprung up near the old “Jungle” shantytown in Calais.
A camp bearing a sign saying 'refugees welcome' has sprung up near the old 'Jungle' in Calais
The new camp has appeared despite claims by French authorities that there would be no return to allowing UK-bound asylum seekers to sleep rough while waiting to get across the Channel.
Such pledges increased last October when more than 8,000 men, women and children were dispersed following the destruction of the “Jungle”.
Hundreds are slowly returning, with up to 100 now living in the makeshift settlement on a vacant strip of land, where the sign has emerged.
Calais mayor Natacha Bouchart has warned “the creation of another Jungle” has already started.
She urged French president Emmanuel Macron not to repeat mistakes of the past, adding that the situation would soon become as bad as ever.
“It’s just under a mile from the Jungle and already very popular,” said a British charity volunteer who asked to be identified only as Mark.
The new camp has appeared despite claims by French authorities there would be no return
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“The authorities are providing basic provisions and we’re supporting them.
“People are of course sleeping in the area because they have nowhere else to stay. The main thing is that people are looked after until their situations are worked out. Yes, the vast majority want to get to Britain. That’s always been the case.”
It’s just under a mile from the Jungle and already very popular
Yesterday, young men from Afghanistan could be seen playing cricket, while others sat around smoking and talking to each other, or on mobile phones.
Tents were being set up, as well as bivouacs in nearby woodland.
A mobile clinic for charity Medecins du Monde is also there.
The words “refugees welcome” have been written on the side of one of the shelters, while toilet blocks and other facilities are due to be set up in Calais next week.
Hundreds are slowly returning, with up to 100 now living in the makeshift settlement
Ms Bouchart and her political allies have vowed to defy the government as it pledges to provide further facilities for migrants.
Two new migrant centres have already been set up close to Calais, although occupants can only stay in them for a week at a time.
Migrants have also resumed setting up roadblocks at night to try and stop lorries heading for the UK so they can get aboard.
The original Calais Jungle had 9000 people living there
This dangerous practice has already led to a number of deaths near Calais, including that of a Polish van driver who died in an accident caused by a blockage earlier this year.
There have also been reports of migrants using bricks and makeshift weapons to terrorise drivers into getting them to Britain.
The hot weather always attracts more migrants to the port town and police have already complained that there are not enough of them to cope with the influx.