Migrants and asylum seekers in Calais,France

 

Calais has been a site of unauthorized migrant camps for more than 15 years

In the late 1990s, Calais became a hub for migrants fleeing the conflict in Kosovo

In 1999 the French Red Cross set up a refugee camp in the neighboring village of Sangatte to absorb the migrant influx
As the numbers of migrants rose there were reports that the Sangatte camp faced problems maintaining proper standards of care and the French authorities closed the camp in 2002

Even after the closure of Sangatte, migrants continued to arrive in Calais and build makeshift camps
In recent years there has been a population surge in the ramshackle tent and shanty community called the Jungle. Many migrants living there fled war or oppression in countries like Syria, Iraq and Eritrea. Afghans, Sudanese and Ethiopians

Night after night hundreds journey from the jungle toward the nearby Channel Tunnel
The tunnel is a direct route to England, where migrants believe they can have a better life.

Thousands of migrants are living in a makeshift shanty village in the northern French port town of Calais known as "the Jungle." 

Migrants and asylum seekers gather amidst tents and shelters at a makeshift camp in Calais, northern France, Wednesday, May 27, 2015

 

Migrants line up as they wait for a food ration distributed by the Banque Alimentaire of Calais

 

What do migrants get when they come to Europe? A comparison of the UK and France

Origins

UK - The top five countries of origin for UK asylum seekers in 2014 were Pakistan, Eritrea, Iran, Syria and Albania.
France - Top five origin countries for France asylum seekers in 2014 were Democratic Republic of Congo, Russia, Bangladesh, Albania and Syria.

Chances Of Staying

UK - In 2014, 12,750 people from outside the EU applied to stay in the UK. 4,015 were approved (31.49%).
France - In 2014, 37,085 people from outside the EU applied to stay in France. 5,825 were approved (15.71%)

Housing

UK - People seeking asylum will be given somewhere to live. This could be a flat, house, hostel or B&B. You can't choose where you live. It is unlikely you will be housed in London or southeast England.
France - Asylum-seekers are entitled to accommodation. The government is planning to build new housing for asylum seekers and for people granted asylum

Money
UK - You'll get a weekly allowance so you can buy food, clothing and toiletries. A single adult gets £36.95. The sum could go up to as much as £72.52 depending on your age and family situation. Mothers and young children can get an extra payment of up to £5 per week. You can also apply for a one-off £300 maternity payment depending on the age of your child.
France - Adults get a temporary waiting allowance (ATA) of 11.45 euros (£8.01) a day. That's 80.15 euros (£56.08) a week

Healthcare
UK - The government website says migrants 'may' get free healthcare from the NHS. They also get free prescriptions, free dental care, free eyesight tests and help paying for glasses.
France - People seeking asylum are covered by the universal healthcare insurance system, but will have to prove that their incomes are low

Education
UK - Children must attend school if aged between five and 17 and may be eligible for free school meals.
France - Children aged between six and 16 must go to school

Work
UK -  Points-based system for anyone from outside the EU who wants to work in the UK.
France - If you're from outside of the EU, to legally work in France you need to find a job, obtain a work permit, obtain a long-stay visa and apply for a residence permit.

A migrant climbs a fence in Coquelles near Calais, northern France on August 4, 2015. Migrants in France made hundreds of attempts from Monday to Tuesday, August 4, to penetrate the Channel Tunnel to get to Britain, a police source said Tuesday, as an unidentified 'anomaly' in the tunnel slowed traffic. The migrant crisis in the northern French port of Calais has hit the headlines in the past week, with people desperate to reach Britain making attempt after attempt to breach Eurotunnel defences, some paying for it with their lives

Workers build a fence to protect the Eurotunnel site from migrants who attempt to reach UK by the channel tunnel, in Coquelles near Calais on August 5, 2015. The European Commission offered to help France and Britain deal with the migrant crisis at the Channel Tunnel, as police on both sides braced for new attempts at the crossing. A police source said on August 5 some 350 migrants attempted to enter overnight on to the Channel Tunnel site near Calais

  Migrants listen carefully as one of the volunteer teachers teaches basic conversational French

With plenty of time on their hands in the Calais migrant camp known as 'the Jungle', some migrants have started to head back to the classroom and take French lessons in the camp.

The language lessons are being offered by volunteer teachers after local charities came together and helped set up a small school in the camp.

The school first opened on July 11,2015 after a group of migrants asked for assistance in learning the local language to help with assimilation.

Although the school is small, with classrooms only able to hold around 30 pupils, it contains all the basics required to learn. 

As well as offering French lessons, the small school offers a variety of lessons, Classes include art, tai chi and most importantly, English conversation classes. 

Many of the migrants taking French classes have taken the decision to apply for citizenship in France and not pursue their hopes of reaching the UK. 

The Jungle is now well stocked with many of the essential facilities including a church, a mosque and even its own disco room, where people can relax with a few tunes

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