Calais: Mission Accomplished… Kind Of

France announced that the “Calais Jungle” is officially dismantled and congratulated themselves for completing the task of moving thousands of migrants out of the camp in record time. Pas-de-Calais Prefect Fabienne Buccio even gave a hearty “mission accomplished” in her announcement, confirming there were “no more migrants in the camp.” However, journalists are saying that’s not exactly true. So far, 4,404 asylum seekers have been shipped elsewhere within France and 1,200 children registered entered a temporary center made out of converted shipping containers near the camp. But there are still large numbers of both groups that are unregistered and, as far as France is concerned, have “disappeared.”

Where did they actually go?

While many are blatantly still in Calais, it’s possible a large portion of this group left to hang out near Calais and will set up camp again once the operation is over. But charities are mostly concerned with the unaccompanied minors that have still not been processed by French authorities and will likely have nowhere to go without the converted shipping containers. But sure, let’s call this “mission accomplished” and get home in time for happy hour.