No Man’s Land
In Calais, nearly 65 kilometers of barbed wire fences crisscross the city. Since the Touquet Agreements were signed in 2003, there has been an externalization of the British border onto French soil. England has paid over 170 million euros to France to secure its border against the influx of migrants in Pas-de-Calais.
The city, with the support of the state, has implemented a policy of repression towards the hundreds of exiles still present in Calais. The forests where the camps are established have been systematically evacuated, cleared, and then fenced off. Around the port and the Eurotunnel, walls and barbed wire fences, sometimes electrified, have been installed to prevent migrants from entering. These measures also affect the residents of Calais, who are deprived of certain green spaces and have to endure this fenced-in environment in their daily lives.
With the 30 kilometers between Calais and Dover becoming nearly impassable, exiles are taking greater risks to cross the strait, notably using small boats. According to the maritime prefecture, in 2021 more than 12,000 people attempted to cross the Channel in boats, compared to about 2,300 in 2019. Over 20 years, more than 346 exiles have died trying to reach England.
Calais, March 2020 – November 2021
Anti-migrant fences surrounding the Eurotunnel area in Coquelles, a town near Calais. Fences 4 meters high and over 30 km long surround the 650 hectares of the Eurotunnel, monitored by 300 security guards, dog handlers, and gendarmes. Coquelles, July 11, 2021.
This "anti-intrusion" wall built in 2016, one kilometer long, surrounds the port bypass. Standing 4 meters high, it aims to prevent exiles from accessing the bypass and climbing onto trucks headed for the United Kingdom. Under video surveillance, it is equipped with an anti-climb system, a smooth concrete exterior, and an interior that was supposed to be landscaped. It was funded to the tune of 2.7 million euros by the United Kingdom. A camp of Eritrean exiles runs alongside the wall. Calais, January 16, 2021.
Entrance to the Eurotunnel. The private European company Getlink holds the concession for the Channel Tunnel infrastructure. It has more than 600 CCTV cameras, a security post capable of handling 1,500 alarms 24/7, a passive millimeter-wave scanner, a heartbeat detection system, and canine inspections, in addition to the 30 km of fencing that surrounds it, some of which are electrified. Coquelles, July 10, 2021.
On Gravelines road, the proximity between the camp and local homes bothers some residents, who spent up to 3,000 euros to secure their houses. Calais, March 11, 2020.
"Anti-intrusion" wall surrounding the Total gas station where some trucks stop before heading to England. Built in 2019, it is 3 meters high. Over the past twenty years, nearly 346 exiles have died trying to reach Britain. Calais, March 12, 2020.
Before its dismantling in March 2020, several hundred exiles lived in this forest along the road to Gravelines, on the outskirts of the city. Calais, March 14, 2020.
Stones have been placed by the city in front of certain camps where exiles live, to prevent humanitarian associations from parking and entering the area to distribute food. Calais, March 10, 2020.
A structure was installed to prevent migrants from settling under the bridge. Roundabout of the Marcel Doret zone, A16 road leading to the port. Calais, December 23, 2020.
In a commercial area west of Calais, under the entrance to a former Conforama store, a camp had been set up. It was evacuated after a few weeks. Stones and barriers were then put in place to prevent migrants from returning. Calais, July 6, 2021.
Four meters high and one kilometer long, this “anti-intrusion” wall surrounds the port bypass. It was financed to the tune of €2.7 million by the United Kingdom. A camp for Eritrean exiles runs alongside the wall. Calais, 16 January 2021
The N216 port bypass where vehicles travel to England by ferry. One of the first anti-intrusion fences built in April 2015, funded by the British government with 15 million euros. Behind the bridge was the "big jungle," dismantled in 2016, where nearly 10,000 people lived. Calais, December 17, 2020.
The Port of Calais is surrounded by 30 km of barbed wire fencing, of which 15 km are equipped with infrared detection systems. 129 surveillance cameras cover the area, and 225 people monitor the port 24/7 to prevent intrusions. Inside the Calais-Boulogne port, there are also devices to detect exiles hidden in trucks: scanners, carbon monoxide detectors, and sniffer dogs. Calais, July 8, 2021.
The port of Calais is surrounded by 30km of barbed wire fencing, 15km of which is equipped with infrared detection systems. 129 video surveillance cameras cover the area and 225 people monitor the port 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to prevent intrusion by migrants. A name has been written under the bypass: Ahmed Amad Arouad and the date 2001. Calais 15 February 2021.
Christmas decorations at the Calais-Boulogne port. Calais, December 18, 2020.
In the center of Calais, the city council installed blue lights under bridges to prevent migrants from sleeping there. Calais, December 26, 2020.
Anti-migrant fences surrounding the Eurotunnel area in Coquelles, a town near Calais. Fences 4 meters high and over 30 km long surround the 650 hectares of the Eurotunnel, monitored by 300 security guards, dog handlers, and gendarmes. Coquelles, July 11, 2021.
A camp of Afghan exiles runs along the Gravelines road. The proximity between the camp and the houses bothers some residents, who have spent up to 3,000 euros to secure their homes. The city implemented a rat control plan and the camp was dismantled in March. Calais 11 march 2020.
The administrative detention center (CRA) in Coquelles. 11 July 2021
A house on the road to Gravelines from the Eritrean exile camp dismantled and fenced in July 2020. Calais, 27 december 2020
Exiles place fabric on the barbed wire to protect themselves when crossing it. Most of Calais’s barbed wire is of the "concertina" type, meaning it has double razor blades. Each panel is 4 meters high and 2.5 meters wide. One panel of barbed wire fencing costs around 550 euros. It takes 400 panels to make one kilometer. There are over 65 km. Calais, March 12, 2020.
In Calais, one of the measures put in place to prevent migrants from accessing the highway and stopping trucks. Calais, July 22, 2021
To prevent migrants from entering its site, in 2016 Eurotunnel flooded its land after clearing nearly 103 hectares of vegetation. Calais, July 22, 2021.
The N216 port bypass, where vehicles traveling to England by ferry pass through. One of the first anti-intrusion fences financed by the British government to the tune of €15 million. Each panel is 4 meters high and 2.5 meters wide. A barbed wire panel costs around €550. It takes 400 panels to cover one kilometer. There are more than 65 km of fencing. Calais, December 17, 2020.
A gas station under video surveillance, in the Dunes industrial zone. A camp had been set up. Calais, December 27, 2020.
Along the port bypass, a first fence was built in 2015. Later, this anti-intrusion wall was erected. Calais, March 22, 2021.
One of the first anti-intrusion fences built in April 2015 to block access to the bypass and the port. It was funded with 15 million euros by Great Britain. Calais, July 6, 2021.