The Calais Jungle known officially as Camp de la Lande was a refugee and immigrant encampment in the vicinity of Calais , France, that existed from January to October There had been other camps known as "jungles" in previous years, but this particular shanty town drew global media attention during the peak of the European migrant crisis in , when its population grew rapidly. Migrants stayed at the camp while they attempted to enter the United Kingdom , or while they waited for their French asylum claims to be processed.
The camp was located on a former landfill site to the east of Calais. By July , it had 3, inhabitants and continued to grow. Although estimates of the number of migrants differed, a Help Refugees census gave a figure of 8, people just before the camp's demolition in October As well as residences, the Jungle contained shops, restaurants, hairdressers, schools, places of worship and a boxing club.
The Government of France initially tolerated the camp, later opting to rehouse 1, migrants in shipping containers to be used as shelters on the north-eastern side of the site.
In February , they evicted the southern sector of the Jungle and there were several arrests. The Jungle received local support and international solidarity from activists, artists, intellectuals and grassroots aid organisations. The camp was completely cleared and demolished in October According to Government plans, 6, migrants would be moved to temporary reception centres around France.
There were concerns over the fate of unaccompanied children and Human Rights Watch published a report in stating that up to 1, migrants were still living in the Calais region. While there is no longer a camp like the Jungle in Calais, a sizeable number of migrants are still present. Migrants based in Calais were attempting to enter the United Kingdom via the Port of Calais or the Channel Tunnel by stowing away on lorries, ferries, cars, or trains. Migrants have gathered around Calais since at least the s.
