La Linière

La Linière refugee camp was situated in Grande-Synthe, Dunkirk, France. It was opened in March 2016 at a cost of around 4 million Euros.[1]

The camp was a scaled back version of an originally much larger plan.[2] The camp was the first official refugee camp to be built in France. It was built in order to provide emergency relief to the refugees living in the predecessor Basroch refugee camp, which was about 1km away and which had unacceptably poor humanitarian conditions.

The driving force for constructing the new camp was the mayor of Dunkirk and its construction ran contrary to the policy of the National French Government who were keen to move refugees away from the coastal areas.[3]

La Linière housed up to 1500 migrants when it opened with a population which was mainly Iraqi Kurds. The numbers fluctuated considerably during its time rising from around 600 in the summer of 2016 to 1600 in the Autumn of 2016.[4]

The camp was troubled during its existence and there were allegations that women and children were being subject to rape and beatings in the camp,[5] and that many of the children were simply disappearing.[6] The French government also cited shooting and stabbing violence as issues of concern in the camp.[7]

The camp closed following a devastating fire which occurred after fighting between Afghan and Kurdish residents of the camp in April 2017.[8]

During the time that the camp existed a wide range of organisations worked in the camp supporting refugees. These included AFEJI,[9] MSF, Utopia 56,[10] OFII, Edlumino Education Aid[11] and others.

See also

References
  1. "France: MSF denounces decision condemning Dunkirk Refugee camp to probable closure". Medecins Sans Frontiers. MSF. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  2. Sage, Adam (1 January 2016). "Dunkirk plan for refugee camp raises fear of second Sangatte". The Times. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  3. Samuel, Henry (7 March 2016). "France's first ever internationally recognised refugee camp opens near Dunkirk". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  4. Alzayani, Razan (18 January 2017). "The Chill sets in at La Liniere, France's First Official Refugee Camp". Refugees Deeply. New Deeply. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  5. Townsend, Mark (12 February 2017). "Women and Children endure rape, beatings and abuse inside Dunkirk's refugee camp". The Guardian. The Guardian. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  6. Staufenberg, Jessica (31 May 2016). "The disappearing pupils of France's Liniere camp". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  7. Samuel, Henry (15 March 2017). "Dunkirk migrant camp must be dismantled 'as soon as possible' like Calais 'jungle' says French interior minister". The Telegraph. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  8. Escaillet, Corintin (11 April 2017). "Fire destroys French Migrant Camp after fight involving 150 refugees". The Independent. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  9. "In La Liniere". Wordpress. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  10. "17th August 2016: UTOPIA 56 PULL OUT OF CAMP". Calaid-opedia. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
  11. Scott, Natalie (27 April 2016). "Teaching in France's refugee camps". SecEd. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
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