What was the Calais ‘Jungle’, where was the migrant camp, how many refugees lived there and when was it demolished?

THE Calais ‘Jungle’ camp was a refugee and migrant centre close to Calais which was finally shut in October 2016.

For a long period of time, the camp was at the centre of the international migrant crisis with thousands of men women, and children living there – with many attempting to cross into Britain. Here’s the story…

Where was the Calais Jungle and what was it?

The Calais Jungle was situated just outside the Port of Calais, a city in northern France. It’s just across the English Channel from Dover and it the main ferry crossing point between France and England.

It was a large refugee and migrant camp which, until it close in October 2017, housed over 10,000 people.

There have been various camps around the French city of Calais since a reception facility known as Sangatte was founded there in 1999.

The camp became overcrowded and was shut down before the Jungle was opened up in 2002.

Most of the migrants living there come from conflict zones such as Somalia, Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Sudan.

The name Jungle came about because it is a translation of the Pashto word “dzhangal” which means forest, according to Calais Migrant Solidarity – a local activist NGO.

Pashto is one of the two official languages of Afghanistan and is the second-largest regional language in Pakistan, and was used by many of the thousands of the refugees in the Calais camp.

How many refugees were there in Calais?

The sprawling camp had a peak population of roughly 10,000 people before the process to demolish it began.

Around 6,400 migrants were evacuated from the camp as it shut – with the French government aiming to resettle migrants at other locations across the country.

Some of those who made the Calais camp their temporary home attempted to illegally cross into Britain through the Channel Tunnel – by stowing away on vehicles travelling to Dover.

As the camp became more and more prominent in the news it also became a target of protests by both pro and anti-immigration groups and political parties.

Buildings at the camp were often the target of arson attacks and violent scenes were not uncommon.

How was it shut and demolished?

The Jungle was demolished and its residents moved across France after an operation to close the camp for good began in October 2016.

More than 1,200 police and officials started the process at 8:00 am in the morning – under the orders of the then French President Francois Hollande.

Migrants were bussed out to various places in France before heavy machinery cleared the tents and shelters

Unaccompanied children will remain in Calais inside purpose-built container cabins in the Jungle, where they will be assessed for eligibility to come to the UK.

Following its closure on October 26, multiple aid groups reported that thousands of former Calais residents had moved to Paris, the French capital.

Why do Calais migrants want to come to Britain?

Many migrants speak English and not French. Others have family living here or are attracted to the opportunities available.

The aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres carried out a survey in May which found 82 per cent of the roughly 6,000 refugees in the camp at the time were aiming to reach Britain.

Desperate asylum seekers have been run over, hit by trains, and drowned in the Channel in their desperate attempts to reach the UK.

If a refugee does make it to Britain decisions on their asylum and human rights claims are made they UK Border Agency.

When an asylum seeker makes an application they must show a well-founded fear of prosecution due to their race, religion, nationality, or political opinion in their homeland.

The must also prove they are unable to seek help from the authorities in their own country.

A person can also claim asylum in the UK if removing them would be a breach of their human rights.