French riot police bulldoze Calais migrant camps

The Guardian and other news sources reported that French authorities had bulldozed three makeshift migrant camps on the 27 May 2014 that had been sheltering hundreds of refugees at the port of Calais, citing health concerns following an outbreak of scabies and increasing violence.

Humanitarian organisations distributed tents to some of the migrants and lambasted the authorities for 'a show operation that solves nothing'. In a letter to the prime minister, Manuel Valls, and other ministers 10 humanitarian groups, including Médecins du Monde (MDM)and the Secours Catholique, attacked the authorities for failing to address the Calais camp problem.

Most of the migrants, who were from many different countries, were seeking to enter the United Kingdom.

• Primary Source

The Local.fr, 28.05.14: Calais migrants: 'France needs a new policy' http://www.thelocal.fr/20140528/france-needs-a-humane-immigration-policy

ESO: Background information: French police clear Calais migrant camp http://www.europeansources.info/record/french-police-clear-calais-migrant-camp/

France24, 28.05.14: French riot police dismantle Calais immigrant camps http://www.france24.com/en/20140528-france-immigration-calais-migrant-camps/

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