Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Middle East refugees flee, but France closes a camp
The Taliban and Al-Qaeda continue to disgrace civility in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The unbearable conditions push migrants to The Jungle.
Ad hoc international and ethnic boundaries have sprung up across the town of Calais. Afghans live in a desolate place known as "the Jungle", Iraqis have their own encampment not far away. East Africans live in a terrace of derelict buildings in the town centre.
The Jungle is a filthy, squalid camp with shacks made from old bits of wood, corrugated iron, plastic sheeting and blankets.
It is starting to look permanent though. This week the men there began work on building a lashed-together mosque.
Ethnic disputes break out frequently. One man was recently murdered here by someone from another tribe. His friends have built him a memorial made from old breeze blocks.
In March, the French and British governments started planning detention centers in Calais to stop illegal immigrants from settling and from crossing the English Channel to Britain. Officials wanted to detain traffickers too.
Today officials detained 278 immigrants who would have paid traffickers about $700 for a trip to Britain. The Jungle may be gritty, but locals host soup kitchens and help build tents for the immigrants. Where will they go?
Sources:
French Officials Move to Close Camp of Migrants Headed to Britain
Detention centre planned for illegal immigrants in Calais
Police detain 278 migrants in raid on Calais 'jungle'
Calais: Immigrants desperate to reach UK
Ad hoc international and ethnic boundaries have sprung up across the town of Calais. Afghans live in a desolate place known as "the Jungle", Iraqis have their own encampment not far away. East Africans live in a terrace of derelict buildings in the town centre.
The Jungle is a filthy, squalid camp with shacks made from old bits of wood, corrugated iron, plastic sheeting and blankets.
It is starting to look permanent though. This week the men there began work on building a lashed-together mosque.
Ethnic disputes break out frequently. One man was recently murdered here by someone from another tribe. His friends have built him a memorial made from old breeze blocks.
In March, the French and British governments started planning detention centers in Calais to stop illegal immigrants from settling and from crossing the English Channel to Britain. Officials wanted to detain traffickers too.
Today officials detained 278 immigrants who would have paid traffickers about $700 for a trip to Britain. The Jungle may be gritty, but locals host soup kitchens and help build tents for the immigrants. Where will they go?
Sources:
French Officials Move to Close Camp of Migrants Headed to Britain
Detention centre planned for illegal immigrants in Calais
Police detain 278 migrants in raid on Calais 'jungle'
Calais: Immigrants desperate to reach UK
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