France to 'completely' dismantle Calais refugee camp

PARIS

President Francois Hollande has said French authorities will "completely and definitively" scrap the refugee camp in Calais in northern France by the end of 2016, which is home to at least 7,000 people hoping to cross over into the U.K.

Speaking at a press briefing as he visited the port city Monday, Hollande said: “The situation [at the camp] is unacceptable and everyone here knows it. [...] We must dismantle the camp completely and definitively.”

He called the camp a “humanitarian emergency”.

On Saturday, Hollande also vowed to “completely dismantle” the camp, which is also known as the Jungle camp, “before winter”, saying “there will be no camps in France”.

“We will provide a humane, dignified welcome to people who will file for the right of asylum,” Hollande said, adding anyone not given asylum in France would be deported.

The French leader also called on the U.K. on Monday to play its role in the migrant crisis.

"I want to see the British authorities play their part in the humanitarian efforts which France is doing today,” he said.

Referring to Brexit, Hollande added: “It is not because the U.K. has taken a sovereign decision that it does not have obligations with respect to France.”

But Britain responded by saying the dismantling of the Jungle camp was “a matter for the French government”.

A spokesman for Britain’s Home Office defended his country’s handling of the migrant crisis.

He told the Daily Mail: “As the Home Secretary reiterated when she met her French counterpart in Paris last month, we remain committed to protecting our shared border in Calais and are working closely with the French to do so.

“The UK Government has made crystal clear its commitment to resettle vulnerable children under the Immigration Act and ensure those with links to the UK are brought here using the Dublin Regulation.

“We will also continue to support the French government as it provides alternative accommodation to migrants in the camps and returns those not in need of protection to their home countries.”

According to local authorities, the camp is home to 6,900 migrants and refugees, while campaigners claim it houses more than 9,000 people.

French authorities cleared the southern part of the camp in March.