Migrant numbers on French coast rise a decade after Calais camp eviction
The article says the number of migrants gathered in and around Calais has risen sharply ten years after French authorities dismantled the Jungle camp, with many hoping to reach Britain by small boat. It argues that the 2016 eviction did not end attempts to cross the Channel, while charities continue to provide food and other support along the French coast.
A Home Office border security commander put the number in Calais and nearby Dunkirk at nearly 4,000, while the article says additional thousands are spread across 240 miles of coastline. It describes charities commemorating the camp’s closure and reports that volunteers prepare up to 1,000 hot meals daily; the article also notes that 21 charities involved in the commemoration have combined annual income of £840,000.
In short
- Nearly 4,000 migrants are reported in Calais and Dunkirk.
- The 2016 closure of the Jungle camp did not end Channel crossings.
- Charities provide meals and other support along the French coast.
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The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Those who support firm enforcement argue that dismantling the Jungle and preventing unsafe crossings are legitimate duties of the state: unmanaged camps can expose people to danger, strain local services and enable criminal smuggling networks. They may say that border controls, alongside cooperation with France, are needed to maintain public confidence in immigration rules and to discourage perilous Channel journeys.
The case against
Those who oppose an enforcement-led approach argue that the camp’s closure did not resolve why people gather on the French coast or prevent attempts to reach Britain, while leaving people without secure shelter or a safe route. They may contend that humanitarian support and practical legal pathways would better protect people, reduce reliance on smugglers and address the conditions that keep camps reappearing.
Explained simply
Calais and nearby Dunkirk lie on the French coast, close to Britain across the English Channel. For people hoping to reach Britain, the short sea crossing is a possible route, though many attempt it in small boats.
In 2016, French authorities cleared a large informal migrant camp near Calais known as the Jungle. Its closure did not stop people gathering along the coast or trying to cross the Channel. Charities have continued to offer practical support, including food, to people living there.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Ten years after I watched the infamous Calais Jungle camp being torn down, I’ve never seen so many migrants lining the coast – all hell-bent on heading to Britain: SUE REID”.