French officials started the demolition of the famed "Jungle" camp on Tuesday, sending migrants to carry their belongings and seek asylum elsewhere in France. Authorities say that 2,500 people have already left the camp beginning Monday.
The demolition proceeded peacefully and orderly unlike the previous attempts to close sections of the camp. Afghans and Sudanese migrant have lived in the camp for over a year, a life of constant fear due to lawlessness and disease.
Those who refuse to leave are those who prefer to enter Britain which is only 20 miles from the camp. Previous attempts to enter Britain by stowing away have resulted in failure but many are still looking for opportunities to migrate there.
Those whose shanties were demolished have no place to go but authorities have offered to transport them to any of the 400 center built for their relocation. These centers are temporary shelters where the migrants will be processed before they are sent to their final destinations in France or elsewhere.
The camp has become a political issue highlighting Europe's dilemma on how France and Britain can accommodate migrants coming Africa and the Middle East. The demolition marks the start of the process to address the problem and provide a final solution that is applicably convenient for all.
Migrants remember their stay in the jungle as a relief from the ravages of war in their places of origin giving them hope that there are places in the world that are willing to accept them even on a temporary basis. Many remember the hardships they experienced while attempting to leave the camp and to proceed to other places on their own.
French authorities are more concerned about the fate of many children in the camp and would like to do for them. Britain has reciprocated and has started to accept refugee children from the Calais camp.
