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Calais to raze three migrants' camps

The French Channel port of Calais is to clear three camps that house 600 migrants from Syria, east Africa and Afghanistan because of an outbreak of scabies. NGOs complain that no alternative accommodation is being offered.

Eritrean migrants in Calais in February
Eritrean migrants in Calais in February RFI/Matthieu Millecamps
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The camps are to be evacuated on 26 May, local official Denis Robin announced this week, explaining that women and children were living in unhealthy conditions as a scabies

outbreak, which started several months ago, spreads.

The migrants, most of whom are from Syria, east Africa and Afghanistan, have gone to the channel city to try to reach Britain.

NGOs that deal with them are not opposed to evacuating the camps but say that the occupants will have nowhere to go and no guarantee of medical attention.

“NGOs have been asking for several years an improvement of access to hygiene, such as drinkable water, showers and toilets, to restrict the emergence and spread of illnesses such as scabies,” Dr Jean-François Corty of Médécins du Monde said.

“If there is scabies in Calais it’s mainly because the authorities have not bothered to establish structures that allow people in a precarious situation to have a minimum of hygiene.”
 

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