The miserable fates in Calais - why?

(Baonghean) - Calais has recently become the focus of media attention not only in France, but also in many other European countries when sharing the difficult problem of immigration crisis. The UK is no exception, with the news that 100 children had to sleep in the open all night long after France decided to "clean up" the Jungle migrant camp, UK observers said that this was the price to pay for Prime Minister Theresa May's tough stance.

Migrant children sleep outdoors after the operation to clear the camp in Calais. Photo: PA.

Discussion and reality

According to the Guardian, the only question that is currently of concern about the chaotic closure of the Calais camp, which has left many children who were left alone to sleep outdoors, is whether it was the result of incompetence or a premeditated, considered policy. On October 10, British Home Secretary Amber Rudd met with her French counterpart Bernard Cazeneuve to finalize plans to close the migrant camp, and they affirmed their agreement on the importance of protecting the safety of all children during the Jungle cleanup operation.

But it is doubtful that any detailed discussion of what might actually happen took place. The French ambassador to the UK, Sylvie Bermann, revealed earlier this week that the British government had rejected a request to bring all the “unaccompanied” children from the migrant wave back to the UK before launching a campaign to close the camp.

“What we asked the British government was to take all the unaccompanied children, and they said they wanted to study the cases and check whether the children had family or relatives in the UK. The French could not know about this, so we passed the list to the British government and now they have to deal with it,” she said.

As a result, most of the children at the makeshift camp were not among the 200 children brought to Britain last week. Instead, they were left behind, awaiting disposal while the camp was demolished around them.

The only plan that seems to have been implemented by the authorities is to use shipping containers as temporary shelters, protecting the children from the rain and sun right here, when the adult “residents” have gradually packed up and left. However, it is true that hundreds of children are “taken care of” in this way so that they have a place to rest when night falls without having to worry too much about the weather, insects, etc., but there are still more than 100 children who are left without a roof over their heads.

Accidental or intentional?

The sad situation has sparked a wave of reactions from charities, volunteers at the site and even British politicians. The Home Office has maintained that it has no authority to operate on French soil and stressed that it had previously offered assistance to ensure the safety of children during the demolition of the camp.

The statement added that French Interior Minister Cazeneuve had given Ms Rudd a specific commitment that the French government would continue to take responsibility for all children in Calais during the operation – including those who are being examined for possible transfer to the UK.

But this somewhat hasty and delayed response is unlikely to satisfy many. Over the past few weeks, charities and politicians in the UK have repeatedly warned of the risk of migrant children becoming lost and falling into the hands of traffickers as their safe havens disappear.

The “last minute” and “salvage” nature of the recent response of the British Home Office is further highlighted when recalling that it was not until October 14 that the British government made an official request to local authorities to find a place to live for migrant children who are eligible for resettlement under an amended law, which stipulates the resettlement in the UK of 3,000 homeless children across Europe.

British Prime Minister Theresa May has taken a tough stance on migrants in Calais. Photo: PA.

Recall that a year ago, British Prime Minister Theresa May made it clear that those who set foot in Calais did not deserve to be considered migrants and announced a tougher approach, according to which only the most “deserving” migrants would be granted temporary protection in the UK.

This new policy was outlined by James Brokenshire, then Secretary of State for Security and Immigration, to the British Parliament in February, affirming that the Home Office would be “tougher” on those who could apply for asylum in another country first.

And so, up to now, Mrs. May may have successfully kept Britain from the biggest migration crisis since World War II that is raging across the old continent. However, this country is still debating whether to open its arms to welcome a few hundred more children into British territory. The image of migrant children curled up outside as night falls may not have been the result of an intentional consequence, but it is clearly the result of a deliberate policy.

Phu Binh

(According to the Guardian)