The French government, on Tuesday, started the process of dismantling the migrant camp in Calais.
Over 4,000 migrants have already left for reception centers across the country. Around 20 workers cleared away over ten tents and cabins within the so-called “jungle”, after three hours of work, under the surveillance of the police.
The “jungle” cannot keep existing; and other solutions are needed. Why don’t they trust the country and go to the re-settlement centers? There will be a lot of volunteers. Why don’t they apply for asylum in France? This is what we encourage them to do,” said Fabienne Buccio, prefect of Pas-de-Calais.
Around 9000 migrants had lived in the Calais ‘jungle’ which is located at the French end of the Channel Tunnel with many eyeing Britain for a better life.
Local government beefed up police support as a precaution on the very first day of the tear-down operation to deal with any emergencies while some activists were instigating some migrants to stay in Calais during evacuation.
The mayor of Calais expressed worry over such instigation’s.
“We are quite worried about some activists taking action, since they have more men on the periphery. They are observing, perhaps locating a place to try to interfere with the act (the tearing down of the camp) and disturb public order,” said Natacha Bouchart, the mayor of Calais.
The dismantling of the camp is said to take around a weeks with more than 1,200 police present during the whole process while the local government has put-up a ring encircling the camp to prevent unauthorized people entering the area
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