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FRENCH GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR CALAIS MIGRANTS, SAYS REFUGEE ACTION

REFUGEE Action has this week urged the French government to take responsibility for the migrants in Calais.

As French authorities demolished the camps on Tuesday, Refugee Action urged the authorities to encourage anyone with protection needs to claim asylum in France, and for any other migrants to receive help in returning to their countries voluntarily.

Many of the people who are living in the makeshift camps are from countries like Afghanistan, Iraq and Eritrea - countries where conflict and human rights abuses are taking place. Many of the people who are in Calais are also under 18.

Sandy Buchan, Chief Executive of the Refugee Action, said: "We believe that European governments should work collectively to manage asylum and migration issues. However, the French government must now take responsibility for those migrants that are on its shores. It is imperative that anyone who needs protection is encouraged to claim asylum in France and go through the proper procedures. If there are no protection issues then migrants need help to return to their country voluntarily."

Mr Buchan added that he hoped the French authorities were taking advice from the UNHCR and charities that are working on the ground in Calais and were treating the migrants in an humane and fair way.

ENDS

For more information contact Julia Ravenscroft, Press Officer at Refugee Action, on 0161 831 5454 or 07771 748 159 or on Juliar@refugee-action.org.uk.

Notes:

Refugee Action is an independent, national charity working to enable refugees to build new lives in the UK. We provide practical advice and assistance for newly arrived asylum seekers and support their settlement through community development work. As one of the country’s leading agencies in the field, Refugee Action has 27 years’ experience in pioneering innovative work in partnership with refugees and advised more than 40,000 asylum seekers and refugees last year.