FRANCE – French demolition teams acting on an eviction order have begun dismantling huts with hammers in part of the Calais migrant camp known as the Jungle. They seem to be leaving inhabited huts intact as they move through the camp’s southern sector, with riot police standing by in support. Two bulldozers have appeared on the periphery and a water cannon has been deployed although not yet used. The government plans to relocate migrants to proper reception centers.

Those living in the camp, mainly from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa, hope to cross the Channel to reach the UK, often using people traffickers to try to enter illegally. The authorities believe some 1,000 migrants will be affected by the eviction plan while aid agencies say the number of people living there is much higher. (BBC)…[+]