Concerns over refugees being moved to containment centres

We’ve heard today that refugees in Calais and Dunkirk will be moved to ‘containment centres’ somewhere in Pas de Calais region – possibly as soon as Friday.

Although there is a clear and very urgent need for improved living conditions, this announcement raises some serious concerns:

• Will the move be forcible or will people be given a choice?
• Without the independent oversight of charities and associations how will people’s rights be protected and their safety ensured?
• When the Calais camp was cleared in Oct 2016 the operation was put together quickly and some of the places people were sent to were highly inappropriate – some with no food for days, no beds, no access at all to medical care etc. With just two days to prepare how can this be avoided?
• Previous clearances in Calais and Dunkirk, including the one in Oct 2016, left some people behind and others quickly returned – what will happen to these people?
• What measures are being put in place to protect children?
• What is the legal framework for this action?

Read more here (French)