New Hostel Housing Immigrants in Calais beds
It has been reported a controversial new hostel in Calais dubbed Sangatte II has been fitted with 40 cheap beds and a piano for migrants hoping to sneak into Britain.
The warehouse – on a street called England Square – has been rented by local charities SOS and No Border in defiance of a French ban on giving shelter to illegal immigrants in town.
It is feared the 2,000 sq ft hangar will act as a springboard for hundreds of illegal immigrants to reach Britain illegally. Less than a mile from the ferry port the disused building is – even closer than the original Sangatte hostel which was bulldozed in 2002.
“The opening of the new centre is the latest in a catalogue of examples showing France is unable to stem the illegal flow of migrants across the Channel.
It comes three months after police flattened a woodland shanty town known as the Jungle, arresting 278 British-bound migrants.” The Mail on-line reported.
Nord Littoral a Calais newspaper said the hostel was currently being equipped to house some of the estimated 300 migrants living rough in the northern French port.
The charities have claimed the warehouse will not become a second Sangatte, insisting it will be used as an information and help centre for migrants.
But Nord Littoral claimed ”They may be claiming it’s not a hostel, but a lorry was seen delivering 40 camp-beds, bed covers and a piano.’
Calais deputy prefect Gerard Gavory said the authorities would not allow the building to become a shelter for migrants. He added:
‘I don’t know exactly what these charities are up to, but if they are planning on providing accommodation to migrants, we will not let that happen.
He added ‘The government’s policy is to prevent any building from being used as a hostel, and we are prepared to send in the police to detain anyone trying to shelter migrants in this building.’
Of the estimated 1,000 migrants currently in Calais, up to 50 a week are thought to be crossing the Channel illegally, with more migrants arriving in the town to replace them every day.
More are also arriving on a daily basis in other ports on the northern French coast that have ferry links to Britain, like Dunkirk, Ouistreham and Cherbourg.
