DENIS CHARLET/AFP/Getty Images(CALAIS, France) — A migrant camp known as “The Jungle” near Calais, northern France, is set to be demolished starting Monday.
Authorities are preparing for some of the estimated 7,000 migrants to refuse to leave as they are forced to decide between seeking asylum in France, or returning to their country of origin.
Many of the migrants do not want to stay in France and dream of getting to the U.K. The U.K. has already started to accept some of the migrant camp’s 1,300 unaccompanied children, BBC reports.
On Saturday, a small group of migrants reportedly threw bottles and stones in protest at French officers at the camp, and police retaliated with smoke grenades, according to BBC.
Authorities in France said they did not want to use force against those who refuse to leave the camp, according to BBC, but may intervene if necessary.
Thousands of leaflets were handed out by French authorities at the camp this weekend explaining the plans for the evacuation, and where to report for some 60 buses that will take them away, BBC reports.
Copyright © 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.