An administrative court in Lille, France, on Oct. 18 rejected requests from almost a dozen aid groups and permitted the closure process of the "Jungle" migrant camp near Calais to continue. President François Hollande has promised closure of the camp as pressure for such a result grows while the April election approaches, and Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve stated that the demolition project is only days away. The groups were seeking postponement of the closure in order to better organize relocation of the migrants, but the court determined that the closure seeks to prevent inhuman treatment that migrants are currently subjected to at the camp. While another concern was the transport of unaccompanied minors, the transfers are to be done pursuant to the Dublin Regulations, which in part governs family reunification.
From Jurist, Oct. 18. Used with permission.
Calais ‘Jungle’ children with nowhere to sleep
Several hundred migrants remain inside the "Jungle" camp in Calais, BBC reporters at the scene say, despite French officials claiming the camp is now empty. About 200 unaccompanied minors were left with nowhere to sleep overnight. Nearly 5,600 people have been moved to reception centers over the past 24 hours, the government said. This includes some 1,500 unaccompanied minors being housed in an on-site container camp, which activists say is now full. Demolition crews continue to clear tents and shelters from the area amid smouldering fires reportedly set by departing migrants. Fabienne Buccio, the prefect of Pas-de-Calais, nonetheless said it was "mission accomplished" for the operation. (BBC News)