22 Sept 2009

Calais Immigrant 'Jungle' Evacuation: French Police Begin Dismantling Camp

French police have begun an operation to clear a notorious immigrant squatter camp on the outskirts of Calais.

Police public order teams gathered at local barracks in the French port, ahead of an operation to detain illegal immigrants and demolish the make-shift camp, known as 'the Jungle'.

As the first dozen officers entered the camp a small group of rights activists formed a human chain trying to bar access to the migrants, shouting "no border, no nation, stop deportation".

Police started leading out the migrants one by one who followed without resistance amid the angry shouts of the protesters and with dozens of journalists looking on.

A dozen immigrants who were refusing to move were dragged and carried out of the camp by police.

Some migrants were still eating their breakfast in tents when police descended on the site.
The main focus is on an area about half a mile south-east of the main port, known as the 'Pashtun jungle' due to the fact it is largely populated by Afghan migrants.
It is estimated there are currently around 300 migrants living in the Pashtun jungle, which is significantly fewer than in previous months.

Sky News