Demolition teams are due to return to the French port of Calais to dismantle more makeshift shelters in the migrant camp known as the “Jungle”. Overnight, riot police fired tear gas at migrants who were hurling stones at the demolition squads.
Authorities say the migrants must move to shipping containers on another part of the site. But many fear this will require them to claim asylum in France and give up their hopes of travelling to Britain, BBC reported.
Migrants, under cover of darkness, tried to access lorries on the motorway heading toward the port.
“Riot police fired tear gas, forcing them back,” she said.
Those living in the camp, mainly from the Middle East, Afghanistan and Africa, hope to cross the Channel to the UK, often using people traffickers to try to enter illegally.
French authorities believe about 1,000 migrants will be affected by the eviction plan while aid agencies say the number of people living there is much higher.
About 100 shacks were dismantled on Monday and at least 12 shelters were set ablaze.
French media say about 150 people, some wielding sticks and iron bars, walked on to the road to block vehicles.
At least four people, including activists from the UK-based No Borders group, were arrested during Monday’s unrest, police say.
Earlier, Good Chance, a theatre group that works in the camp, said police were stopping volunteers from entering the camp.
French officials say public areas in the camp such as places of worship or schools will not be affected and describe the clearance as a “humanitarian operation”.
