This week the UK began construction on what has been dubbed the “great wall” near the porous border in Calais, France, to keep illegal migrants from gaining access to vehicles preparing to cross the English channel.
The British government is pouring around £2 million in the project to put up a 4 metre (13ft) high barrier along both sides of the main road into the northern French port.
Plans were revealed at the beginning of September and building is expected to be complete by the end of the year, the BBC reports.
The wall is designed to keep migrants from the nearby ‘Jungle’ migrant camp from attacking and stopping traffic as they attempt to board lorries and cars to make clandestine entries to the UK.
It will be made of smooth concrete to make it difficult to scale and will be extended by fences, many of which are already in place.
Work has started on the UK-funded barrier dubbed the "Great Wall of #Calais". pic.twitter.com/qrdz4x8hmH
— BBC South East (@bbcsoutheast) September 20, 2016
The population of the ‘Jungle’ camp has recently surged to more than 10,000 and the number of violent incidents has shot up as migrants become more desperate and audacious in their attempt to enter the UK.
Police have declared a part of Calais a “no go zone” after dark, and migrants have caused vehicles to crash, left logs on the road, thrown rocks off bridges, and set fire to undergrowth. Drivers have also been attacked, beaten with bats, stabbed, and even threatened with chainsaws.
[…]
