French president, Francios Hollande, announced his plans to dismantle the migrant camp in Calais by the end of the calendar year.
The camp, more commonly known as “the Jungle,” has been a source of controversy for Hollande, as he looks toward re-election for the first time since 2012. The purpose of the visit, according to CNN, was for him to tell “the desperate immigrants” they would not be able to stay in the camp because “their place is not here.” Hollande did, however, emphasized that France would “protect them as much as necessary.” Additionally, he was credited in a Reuters article as stating he wanted “…the closure of the camp as quickly as possible.”
Hollande, according to the New York Times, visited the camp on Monday, September 26 for the first time this year, has faced criticism from conservative and far-right rivals, “who say the camp is a symbol of his failure to deal with Europe’s migrant crisis.”
The camp is said to be home to seven thousand people, according to authorities. However, humanitarians estimate as many as ten thousand people actually live in the camp, with nine hundred unaccompanied minors the last time aid organization France Terre d’Asile counted.
French authorities have stated alternative housing will be offered in centers across France to one of France’s 164 migrant reception centers largely located in the city of Tours. There, the migrants will, according to the French government, will be able to apply for asylum. France will be attempting to find nine thousand new places at welcome centers to receive migrants before winter.
According to the New York Times, the government’s plan after relocation, will be for reception centers to hold forty to fifty people for up to 4 months while “…authorities study their cases.” After that, migrants who choose to not purse applying for asylum will then be deported. Despite the announcement of the plans, no firm timeline has been given.
Hollande, however, has continued to face criticism from nonprofit organizations. Eight unnamed organizations specifically, wrote a letter to Hollande, in which they “…called for a long-term policy of hospitality and integration in France,” referring to the camp in Calais as “a short-term view” that will solve nothing for current and future migrants.
Hollande, in a speech to police who will be securing the area, has said he will shut down the camp “with method and determination.” His goal, according to a New York Times article, is to prevent new camps from appearing near Calais, or anywhere else in France. He also stated police forces will remain in and around the camp “as long as needed” after the camp is shut down.