Hollande confirms ‘Jungle’ shutdown and urges London help

President Francois Hollande said on Monday that France will completely shut down “the Jungle” migrant camp in Calais and called on London to help deal with the plight of thousands of people whose dream is ultimately to get to Britain.

“The situation is unacceptable and everyone here knows it,” Hollande said in the port city. About 10,000 migrants from war-torn countries such as Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan live in the “Jungle”, the launchpad for their attempts to stow away on lorries heading across the Channel to Britain.

“We must dismantle the camp completely and definitively,” he said.

France plans to relocate the migrants in small groups around the country but opponents of the leader are raising the heat ahead of the election in April, accusing him of mismanaging a problem that is ultimately a British one.

The migrants want to enter Britain, but the government in London argues that migrants seeking asylum need to do so under European Union law in the country where they enter.

Immigration was one of the main drivers of Britain’s vote this year to leave the EU. It is also likely to be major factor in France’ s presidential election.

London and Paris have struck agreements on issues such as the recently begun construction of a giant wall on the approach road to Calais port in an attempt to try to stop migrants who attempt daily to board cargo trucks bound for Britain.

Hollande’s visit came just days after his conservative predecessor Sarkozy — who is hoping to return as president in elections next year — visited the town to promote his tough line on migration.