France will pump three million euros per year to convert a children's holiday camp into a day centre for migrants in Calais that hope to reach Britain in the New Year, the country’s interior minister has confirmed, reports The Telegraph.
The plan sparked strong criticism from migrant help groups, who claim it will create a “ghetto” and resemble Sangatte – the notorious Red Cross welcome centre closed in 2002.
In his first visit to the northern port city, where tensions are at boiling point due to the rise in numbers of migrants in recent months, Bernard confirmed the government would fund the new Jules Ferry centre as well as applying for EU grants.
He added there would be a planned “English presence” at the site, with British immigration officers from the port, visiting to “inform migrants” on the situation in the UK.
Philippe Mignonet, Calais deputy mayor in charge of immigration, said the idea was to send the message to migrants that Britain is no “El Dorado”, and that “they realise that what mafia networks are telling them (about life in the UK) is false”.
“British immigration officials will inform migrants about their rights and duties in Britain but also about how to ask for asylum,” he told the Telegraph.
Mr Cazeneuve said the facility would open in the grounds of a children’s holiday camp outside Calais and is expected to offer basic health care, lavatories and bathrooms.
“The weather obliges us to act fast,” he said. “My aim is that between now ... and the start of January, everything is in place.”
“Tenders will be launched, lavatories installed and investments made,” he said.
The Socialist minister insisted he wished to “avoid the flaws of Sangatte” – the notorious Red Cross migrant welcome centre that was closed in 2002 – saying the new site would only be “part of the puzzle” in solving the migrant problem.
However, a group of French charities slammed the site.
Read more of this report from The Telegraph.
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