French riot police were called in to end fighting
among around 200 migrants in Calais early Saturday that left seven slightly injured.
The clashes took place in the sand dunes near the
port where hundreds of migrants hoping to get to
Britain wait out their chance in makeshift camps and shelters.
“It was a big fight involving 200 migrants. We have
had ones of this size before,” police official Nicolas
Honore told AFP.
Tensions between African and Afghan migrants
boiled over amid frustration about the lack of lorries crossing the Channel because of the holidays, according to Christian Salome who works with a group that provides meals to the migrants.
“Some of them had been drinking, especially the
Africans, which can cause tensions with the Afghans
who do not drink,” he added.
Calais is the main staging post for migrants trying to
reach Britain from continental Europe without official documents, usually by smuggling themselves aboard one of the thousands of trucks that leave daily via the port and cross the Channel by ferry. Around 2,300 migrants, mostly from Sudan, Eritrea and Syria, live in the makeshift tent village in Calais known as “the jungle”.
The town hall is expected to open a day facility for
migrants in April with toilets and showers.

www.vanguardngr.com/2015/01/police-break-fight-among-200-migrants-heading-britain/