No solution to Calais' migrant problem one year after "jungle" demolition

No solution to Calais' migrant problem one year after "jungle" demolition
By Robert Hackwill
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Migrants continuing to gather in Calais and Dunkirk sleeping rough due to lack of facilities.

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One year ago the so-called “Jungle” refugee camp in Calais, northern France was demolished but the area is still a magnet for migrants trying to reach the U.K. An official shelter in nearby Dunkirk burned down earlier this year, so tents and makeshift shelters in wooded areas have to do.

“For most unfortunately the situation now is worse than the Jungle. The problem is that although the Jungle was pretty awful we did have things like running water, we had some very basic sanitation and of course we did have tents and shelters. Now the refugees are sleeping rough,” said volunteer with “Care4Calais” Clare Mosley.

To help sort in our warehouse or make a donation to keep refugees warm this winter go to https://t.co/ASUKnd9jWo#volunteers#thatsamourepic.twitter.com/nJhTTEmpbQ

— Care4Calais (@Care4Calais) 22 octobre 2017

The migrants are totally reliant on unofficial volunteers for help. despite a court order for French authorities to provide better care.

“We live a very difficult life here. We ask you to help us and maybe open a camp for us to live in. Now it is winter, we can’t bear the cold weather. These four children cannot live in these bad conditions,” said Harmin Ibrahim, an Iraqi Kurd.

Nous sommes face à des situations qui démontrent que les migrants arrivant à #Calais sont embrigadés par des passeurs et des associatifs.

— Natacha BOUCHART (@NatachaBouchart) 20 octobre 2017

*Calais’ mainstream Conservative mayor “We are faced with a situation that shows that migrants are being marshalled to Calais by people traffickers and associations”. Natacha Bouchart, under pressure from the Front National and local pressure groups, is taking a hard line* As long as English-speaking migrants arrive in Europe seeking a better life in Britain this situation looks likely to continue. Until the British and French governments can find a common policy that works in the long term, and not apply temporary solutions for short-term political gain, the migrant’s plight will continue.

Prenez une photo de votre #douche et partagez la afin d’interpeller gerardcollomb</a> sur les conditions des <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/exil%C3%A9s?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#exilés</a> à <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Calais?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Calais</a> <a href="https://t.co/qFPmvIPXOj">pic.twitter.com/qFPmvIPXOj</a></p>— eurodéputés EE (euroecolos) 17 octobre 2017

Members of the European Parliament have been taking photos of themselves in the shower to campaign for better conditions in Calais

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