FINAL CALAIS ‘JUNGLE’ CENSUS SHOWS 20% POPULATION DROP, BUT NUMBER OF UNACCOMPANIED MINORS IS UP
· Over 2,000 people have left camp since September as demolition begins
· But unaccompanied minors up 26% from 1022 to 1291
· 8143 people will be displaced when camp is demolished on Monday 24 October
The final census from Help Refugees and L’Auberge des Migrants has determined that the final population of the Calais ‘Jungle’ as demolition begins today (Monday 24 Oct) is 8143, meaning that over 20% of the camp’s population has dispersed as eviction has drawn nearer.
While many have already moved to accommodation centres (CAO’s), up to eighty people a day have been arrested, and Help Refugees and L’Auberge des Migrants warn that “many more are now facing winter in camps with no infrastructure or support where they are much more vulnerable”.
Worryingly, those who remain include an increased proportion of minors and unaccompanied minors, with the overall number of minors up from 1179 to 1496 and the number of unaccompanied minors up a staggering 26% from 1022 to 1291.
Despite the arrival of fourteen teenagers in the UK last week, the situation for these unaccompanied minors remains desperate, with not a single child having been resettled in the UK under the Dubs amendment, and no specific provision having been made by authorities to guarantee the safety of children.
Voluntary organisations are trying their best to ensure the safety of the children by providing the camp’s residents with suitcases and backpacks which will allow them to take their possessions with them, and carrying out targeted distributions to the most vulnerable people in the camp, ensuring they have everything they need to stay warm and dry, and, where possible, that all unaccompanied minors have a mobile phone with credit.
Volunteers are also prioritising the dissemination of accurate information, signposting camp residents to both the legal centre and the Refugee Info Bus where they can learn more about the asylum process and the services available to them.
The eviction is due to take place between October 24-28 and authorities expect 3,000 people to leave today.
Help Refugees said: “Although we wholeheartedly welcome the British government succumbing to public pressure and allowing unaccompanied minors to be reunited with their families in the UK, sadly, for over 1,000 remaining unaccompanied children, no protection is yet available.
“NGOs providing child services fear that because of this lack of contingency, many will disperse and go missing during the current eviction. We urge authorities in France to do everything within their power to prevent this, and those in the UK to expedite the cases of the minors eligible for resettlement under the Dubs amendment and Dublin III Regulation.”
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Link: http://www.helprefugees.org.uk
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Update in the afternoon:
BREAKING NEWS: 49 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN AGE 13 OR UNDER STILL IN CALAIS CAMP
From Help Refugees:
Our team on the ground have informed us that The Home Office have not been allowed to register children today. As such, the most vulnerable group, the under 13's (who would qualify under the Alf Dubs amendment) are being forced to remain in the Calais camp itself amidst all the confusion and chaos.
Our latest census shows there are 49 unaccompanied children in the Calais camp who are 13 years old or under. All are eligible under the Dubs amendment for resettlement in the UK.
There are also many unaccompanied girls remaining in camp who are eligible to come to the UK but who were not registered over the weekend.
The shipping containers on site in the Calais camp were emptied of residents at 7am this morning, on the understanding that unaccompanied minors would be housed there until they were properly processed (either sent to the UK under Dubs or family reunification, or suitable accommodation was found for them in France). However, the minors already living in the containers were also asked to vacate this morning. Some of the children are being asked to go to the warehouse for registration to queue up to then be sent back to the containers. Others are being told registration has stopped for the day.
This chaotic set up is extremely distressing and confusing for the lone minors, the youngest of which is 8 years old (according to our last census). The younger children are struggling to understand where they are supposed to go, and how they are supposed to get there.
Up to a thousand children are expected to be housed in the shipping containers and at present it appears there is nothing in the way of youth workers or social workers to be responsible for, and help calm these young people and children.
The teams on the ground are doing all they can to provide reassurance and guidance.
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For media requests please contact media@helprefugees.org.uk
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