France opened a migrants' shelter made of converted shipping containers in Calais on its northern Channel coast to try to bring some order to the so-called "jungle" camp in nearby sand dunes.
The squalid, unsanitary "jungle" hosts 4,000 migrants from poor and strife-torn countries outside the European Union. Most of them hope to reach Britain across the Channel where more job opportunities, and the English language, are big draws.
. Calais, France. Reuters/Benoit Tessier
Tents and shanties have been cleared to make space for the shelter, designed to accommodate up to 1,500 people in 125 white-painted shipping containers. The metal boxes have bunk beds, heaters and windows, but no water or toilets.
Showers and toilets will be accessible at an existing facility currently reserved for women and children.
. Calais, France. Reuters/Benoit Tessier
French authorities say the containers are a good solution because the dunes are unsuitable for traditional foundations, but even this level of permanence may be a political football.
A building in nearby Sangatte housed as many as 2,000 refugees before it was shut down in 2002 under pressure from local residents and after the French and British governments agreed it was encouraging illegal immigration to Britain.
. Calais, France. Reuters/Philippe Wojazer
The French government's top official for the Pas-de-Calais region said people considered to be particularly vulnerable would be granted priority access to the new shelter.
"We want migrants to come here and rethink their entire journey with the help of associations and authorities,” said regional prefect Fabienne Buccio, who hopes to be able to persuade those arriving there to seek asylum in France or elsewhere in Europe.
“They need to understand that it is now impossible to reach the United Kingdom from here."
. Calais, France. Reuters/Pascal Rossignol
Security around train tracks to the Eurotunnel, which leads from France to Britain, has been beefed up recently to prevent migrants from jumping onto trains and vehicles heading for Britain or trying to walk through the tunnel. This has led to frequent clashes between migrants and the police.
. Calais, France. Reuters/Philippe Wojazer
Migrants will have to register to live inside the shelter perimeter fence, with access controlled by handprint technology. Some said they were suspicious of this set-up.
Inayat, 25, who travelled from Afghanistan, and David, 17, from Eritrea, said they would not check in because they still wanted to reach Britain as soon as possible.
. Calais, France. Reuters/Benoit Tessier
"It's like a prison in there," Abdullah, 25, from Iraq, said, eyeing the green fences surrounding the centre. He and his friend Saad plan to stay in their tents despite freezing winter temperatures, frequent rainstorms and mud.
"Once you are in there (shelter), they will not let you go out," Abdullah said.
Buccio said migrants would be free to go in and out of the facility without restrictions, day and night, but that they would be asked to show a handprint for safety reasons.
