The United Nations special representative on migration has described the situation in the makeshift refugee camp in Calais as an indictment on society and urged the British and French governments to do more to help the people living there.
After a visit to the camp on the outskirts of the French port, Peter Sutherland said on Wednesday he was shocked by the squalid and dangerous conditions in the “Jungle” camp:
I cannot easily recover from the shock of Calais.the French and British governments should rapidly respond to the horrible conditions.
— Peter Sutherland (@PDSutherlandUN) September 23, 2015
The Camp in Calais is a truly dreadful place. It is an indictment of society that it exists.Why have the media largely moved on?
— Peter Sutherland (@PDSutherlandUN) September 22, 2015
With the filth has come disease and the place is testimony to the desperation of the people in it. They deserve immediate action.
— Peter Sutherland (@PDSutherlandUN) September 22, 2015
The camp on the edge of Calais has grown rapidly since it was established earlier this year and is now home to more than 3,000 people fleeing war, poverty and persecution in Syria, east Africa and Afghanistan. Many of those living there risk their lives trying to get on to trains or lorries heading to the UK - at least 10 people have died since June.
Amid growing pressure, the UK government agreed to take 20,000 Syrian refugees over five years - a tiny fraction of the numbers fleeing the war-torn country.
But David Cameron has ruled out taking any Syrians that have made it as far as Calais saying it would encourage others to make the journey.
This has led to growing tension among people in the Jungle who say they are being unfairly treated by the British.
