France buses 1,600 migrants out of notorious ‘Jungle’ camp in Calais
James McAuley of the Washington Post reports on an important refugee development in Europe.
More than 1,600 migrants were bused to new shelters across France yesterday as part of the dismantling of the notorious “Jungle” camp in Calais, a last stop for those desperate to cross the English Channel and enter Britain.
France maintains that it is closing the camp for humanitarian reasons and to end the stateless limbo for thousands of migrants. But the camp also has become a glaring symbol of Europe’s struggle to cope with a mass migration of people from war-torn places such as Syria and Afghanistan.
The Calais “Jungle” is the nickname given to a refugee and migrant encampment in the vicinity of Calais, France. Many living in this camp attempt to illegally enter the United Kingdom via the Port of Calais or the Eurotunnel by stowing away on lorries, ferries, cars, or trains traveling to the UK. The camp gained global attention during the European refugee and migrant crisis when the population of the camp grew and French authorities carried out evictions.
The plan is to resettle the migrants in different regions of France.
KJ