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| Courtesy of google images |
There are currently between 7000 and 10,000 migrants living in the Camp which is otherwise known as 'The Jungle'. Conditions are poor and violence is believed to have broken out as migrants become desperate in their attempts to hitch onto lorries entering the UK via the English Channel.
Immigration has become a topical issue on the EU agenda, as European Countries have struggled to deal with the large influx of migrants coming from countries mostly in the Middle East and Africa.
In 2015, it was estimated that over a million immigrants crossed into Europe and the figures for net migration into the UK stood at 180,000 in March 2016.
Many migrants make their voyage within the EU, with camps of refugees now residing in Greece, Hungary, Germany and France. Although the common goal of most migrants is to reach the UK.
Such large numbers of refugees seeking asylum within the EU has put pressure on European leaders to make key decisions on how best to contain the crisis whilst figuring how to assist those genuinely seeking asylum. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, called on other European countries to assist in taking more migrants, as approximately 1.1 million migrants entered Germany alone last year and stated: "In view of the many refugees who are already with us, other EU countries will have to jump in."
French president Francois Hollande pledged to open reception centres which will look to accommodate roughly 9000 refugees, but he too stressed the importance of the help required from other EU countries stating the UK needs to play its part.
There has been minor success in the efforts to reduce the numbers of refugee camps within the EU, as the number of people residing in 'the jungle' at Calais is reported to have been halved earlier this year. Although this has not been without tragedy, as there is a death toll of over 3000 migrants attempting to make the treacherous journey into the UK. So far the youngest death was recorded last week with a 14 year old boy killed in a hit and run accident whilst trying to cross the border to the UK on a lorry.
Nonetheless Hollande's decision to close the camp by the end of this year is just one of many decisions that will need to be made in an attempt to the control the crisis. So far his plans include building a wall spanning 0.6 miles, which will receive UK funding, to prevent stowaways from crossing the border into the UK by hiding underneath lorries. Costs for this wall have not yet been confirmed, but work is reported to have begun on it last week.
The migrant crisis certainly raises questions in regards to the treatment immigrants receive when entering the UK and other EU countries and there are many challenges regarding the measures that should be taken to exercise the proper checks and controls when deciding who should receive entry and who should not. Time will tell as world leaders come together to decide on how best to contain the crisis. However I can guess today's news of the closure of the camps at Calais may not be received most favorably by those who currently living there, as many of them could possibly face deportation back to their respective countries and hopes of a better life may prove hopeless. Undoubtedly these migrants have a challenging time ahead of them and the next few months in the jungle will most likely not be all fun and games.
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