Life, death and limbo in the Calais ‘Jungle’ – five years after its demolition

The refugee camp became notorious in 2015, as 1 million people fled war and danger to come to Europe. Years after it was demolished, 2,000 migrants are still waiting there, at the centre of a political storm

A small group of Ethiopian and Eritrean men stand shoeless and shivering in Calais. A few hours earlier, they almost drowned in the Channel, trying to cross to the UK. They got into difficulty when the motor on their boat failed. Their jeans are stiff and sodden with sand and seawater.

We called the French coastguard to rescue us but they told us to call the English coastguard," says one man. Eventually, the French rescued us and brought us back to Calais.

Migrants and police at the Old Lidl' site in Calais. The police clear the site regularly, evicting anyone living there and seizing remaining belongings.