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France Fears New Migrant ‘Jungle’ Is Already Taking Shape In Calais

REUTERS/Philippe Wojazer

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Jacob Bojesson Foreign Correspondent
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French authorities are concerned that hundreds of refugees still in the Calais area could form a new “Jungle” after the old one was demolished.

Authorities declared the camp closed Wednesday night after a three-day demolition process. Thousands of migrants were bussed away to new locations across France and the eviction went smoothly with fewer altercations than expected.

Around 60 migrants are believed to have stuck around in Calais. A further 200 new refugees arrived this week, which makes authorities and charity organizations fear that a new “Jungle” is in the making.

“We just feel like we’re right back at square one,” Rowan Farrell, co-founder of charity Refugee Info Bus, told The Independent. “There are 60 people – it’s like the start of the next Jungle.”

French authorities aimed to relocate the entire Jungle population, and does not have accommodation in place for people still in Calais.

“Thousands and thousands of people have gone to reception centers, which we’re very happy about,” Farrell said. “But another 60 people on the street, it just feels like the start of something else. Zero has been put in place by the French Government for the people still sitting here.”

An increasing number of hijackings along the motorway in Calais is one of the main factors behind the decision to close the camp. Twenty migrants were arrested Thursday for attempting to get into the United Kingdom illegally.

“They were trying to board lorries,” said Philippe Mignonet, Calais’ deputy mayor, according to The Telegraph.

Authorities believe as many as 1,000 migrants could still be on the move in the Calais area.

“It’s the end of the first chapter, but not the end of the story,” Mignonet said.

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