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French Roust Migrant 'Jungle'

Squatters' camp near Calais was home to hundreds of Afghans seeking asylum

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Sep 22, 2009 3:36 AM CDT
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(Newser) – French riot police stormed in today to clear an immigrant camp known as "the Jungle," the Guardian reports. The camp in woodlands outside Calais was home to hundreds of asylum seekers living in squalid conditions. Most were men and boys from Afghanistan seeking to cross to Britain on trucks going through the nearby Channel Tunnel.

Protesters shouted at police as the migrants were taken to buses. "It's shameful," one woman said. "They treat people like animals. Children were being pushed to the floor." Britain has refused a UN request to take hundreds of migrants from the camp. Immigrants will be held at shelters or detention centers while authorities process their claims. But officials won't deport individuals back to countries at war, and aid agencies believe most will end up back on the streets or camping elsewhere.

Police officers form a cordon as they storm the migrants camp known as the Jungle in Calais today.
Police officers form a cordon as they storm the migrants camp known as the "Jungle" in Calais today.   (AP Photo/Remy de la Mauviniere)
French police shove migrants from the camp known as the Jungle, in Calais.
French police shove migrants from the camp known as the "Jungle," in Calais.   (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
Police officer grabs a migrant in the camp known as the Jungle in Calais today.
Police officer grabs a migrant in the camp known as the "Jungle" in Calais today.   (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
A police officer watches migrants in the camp known as the Jungle in Calais, northern France, today.
A police officer watches migrants in the camp known as the "Jungle" in Calais, northern France, today.   (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
A migrant drinks water from a plastic container in the so-called Jungle camp in Calais, northern France.
A migrant drinks water from a plastic container in the so-called "Jungle" camp in Calais, northern France.   (AP Photo/Michel Spingler)
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The closure makes sense only if we put into place real measures to help the refugees.
- Pierre Henry, director-general of refugee support group France Terre d’Asile

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
bewilderbeast
Sep 22, 2009 11:20 AM CDT
Newser: Which sub-editor thinks these creatures are "migrants"? (see your summary and pic captions)!! In the Guardian and the Times articles the use of the term was less blatant, I think. Do check and have a think, would ya? They're people, actually. With names and a country of origin.
jagerhans
Sep 22, 2009 9:11 AM CDT
these things are not going to stop. we are going to see the issue of immigration growing more and more troublesome, it will go worse for all the rest of our lives because there isn't the least amount of effort put into really helping the immigrants at home. they will knock at our doors en masse and we won't be able to leave them out buy force for long. under our dumb eyes one of the biggest tragedies of mankind is slowly taking hold and the outcomes aren't predictable.
kokuaguy
Sep 22, 2009 1:53 AM CDT
Good point, beast. Congratulations on the "passing" of buh. Its hate "speech" made me yearn for the rationality and humanity that Corona_king would occasionally display. ; ^)

 
France • illegal immigration • immigrant • refugee • eviction

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