French authorities begin Calais camp clearance, but future uncertain for migrant residents

After months of talk by French authorities, threats to destroy the sprawling “Jungle” migrant camp in Calais finally became reality and hundreds of its residents gave up on their dream of reaching Britain, a short sea crossing away.

Following sporadic outbreaks of unrest overnight, the migrants chose to stay in France while their asylum requests are considered.

By lunchtime, more than 700 had left the squalid shantytown on France’s northern coast for refugee centres across the country.

French officials celebrated the peaceful start to yet another attempt to dismantle the camp, which has become a symbol of Europe’s failure to respond to the migration crisis.