Calais: Cazeneuve rejects high-profile attack over "The Jungle"



PARIS: -- The French Interior Minister has rejected accusations that his government is not doing enough to improve conditions in the enormous migrant camp at Calais.

A group of French figures, including former footballer Eric Cantona and award-winning economist Thomas Piketty has called on the government to improve conditions in the sprawling migrant camp near Calais.

Meeting police and politicians in Calais today, Bernard Cazeneuve said he shared the group’s concerns but rejected accusations that the government is not doing enough.

The group listed inadequate food, showers, lavatories and a scabies epidemic as its primary concerns.
They condemned the conditions as “a disgrace to a rich nation” and called on the government to act.

6000 refugees and migrants from countries like Iraq, Sudan and Eritrea are living in the open in a makeshift camp with limited access to food, water and adequate shelter.

Cazeneuve said that 13 million euros has been invested in an on-site welcome centre and gave a commitment that housing would be provided for vulnerable women and children.

He announced new measures to house those living at the camp.

The call from 800 artists and intellectuals was published in the “Libération” newspaper under the headline “How long are we going to remain silent?”

Cazeneuve also warned of the risk of opening the border with the UK:

“Given the current context, the control and security of the border is the only responsible reaction to this crisis. Sending out the signal that the Franco-British border would not be monitored and that crossing to the UK would be possible or easy would immediately lead to a massive and uncontrollable influx of migrants.”


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2015-10-22

The call from 800 artists and intellectuals was published in the “Libération” newspaper under the headline “How long are we going to remain silent?”

How about those 800 artists and intellectuals putting their coin in the bag to improve the situation.

I'm sure if each of them would donate only 5% of their net worth, a much larger amount than 13 million Euros would be collected.

The call from 800 artists and intellectuals was published in the Libération newspaper under the headline How long are we going to remain silent?

How about those 800 artists and intellectuals putting their coin in the bag to improve the situation.

I'm sure if each of them would donate only 5% of their net worth, a much larger amount than 13 million Euros would be collected.

I'd happily contribute towards their fare back to where they came from providing they take that big horrible sod Cantana with them.

Edited October 22, 201510 yr by jesimps

"Rich nation!!!" With 3.53 million FRENCH out of work! Now we see that these artistic clowns are really living in another damn world!

"Rich nation!!!" With 3.53 million FRENCH out of work! Now we see that these artistic clowns are really living in another damn world!

That's the problem when you get rich people, like Cantona, and these "artists and intellectuals". They can be champagne socialists who are happy to champion illegal migrants but ignore the plight of their own countrymen. They think everyone is rich like themselves; and are happy to suggest ways to spend the state's wealth because it doesn't affect them.