Violence erupts as French refugee camp slated to close

France wants 6,500 residents in other camps in country.

Violence was reported Sunday as residents of “the Jungle,” Calais’ infamous refugee camp, lashed out at government preparations to close the sprawling settlement in northern France.

Dozens of people could be seen throwing rocks at police in images relayed by French broadcaster BFMTV. The authorities then fifired tear gas.

France wants to close the camp, which is home to ab out 6,50 0 migrants, starting Monday and ship its residents to camps across the country. The operation is expected to take about a week. About 1,250 po lice offifficers have been called in to help with the job.

Help er s working i n the camp said most of the residents did not want to go.

“Some will try to hide themselves in neighboring pa rts of Calais. There’s a real threat we’re going to have a pursuit situation,” said Chr i stian Salome, head of the aid organization Auberge des Migrants, the newspaper Journal de Dimanche reported. Nord Littoral, another newspa- per, reported that Salome backs the planned closing. But he said the town still needs to provide an intake center for the migrants who will arrive after the Jungle is shut down.

The prefect heading the Pas de Calais administration, Fabienne Buccio, said she was more confident than Salome that the closing would succeed. She said community leaders in the camp assured her that people wanted to leave.

Buccio added that the closing offffffffffffered migrants an “exceptional chance.” Many have been reluctant to leave the camp for another destination in France, because they want to go to Britain.