The squalid and dangerous shanty camp, where many migrants are waiting to leave France in search of better living conditions, is located on concrete.
It was established this year at the Dunkirk edge and run by arm traffickers. An African man was killed four times last week over the price for a crossing.
The first Afghans fleeing the Taliban’s takeover have arrived, as have those slipping over the border between Belarus and Poland. According to our sources, they were taken here by British traffickers driving cars registered in the UK. They then picked them up from Poland and drove 22 hours to northern France.
They call it the New Jungle, after Calais’ shanty village that housed 8,000 inhabitants was demolished by France several years back.
The camp was established this year at the Dunkirk edge. It is also close to popular launch spots.
In Dunkirk’s version, there is no electricity and the mud is ankle deep when it rains. A population growing daily requires too many latrines. Food is provided by charity vans once per day.
French-armed police refuse to allow traffickers into France, while the French government looks on.
‘The French know conditions are appalling,’ said an informant inside the camp. ‘They are deliberately creating a hostile environment so migrants want to leave and get on Channel boats.
‘It has become a push factor for reaching Britain along with dreams of hotels and benefits which are not given by the French.’
Every few days, hundreds of people visit the camp to await their chance to fly on to Britain.
Every few days, hundreds arrive. A British Border Force ID card that he received five years ago from Birmingham helped one Afghan get on a French military aircraft out of Kabul. ‘I dream of getting back into the UK,’ he told French TV as he stood on the beach.
Many are marched to the shores for night-time Channel crossings, which have been organized by traffickers. The source said: ‘It is a military operation run ruthlessly.’
Five zones are available in the camp. Some house different nationalities, another is for children and mothers – and there is a special one for the wealthiest, the VIP Zone, for migrants with at least £6,000.
The source added: ‘They are predominantly Vietnamese, Chinese and Albanians. They are put at the front of the queue and get the safest and fastest boats.’
Some are not so lucky. As they bargain over the cost of a room on a rickety boat, destitute Africans have lived in France for many years and are now living here.