Strasbourg deputy mayor welcomes migrants from Calais "jungle"

The deputy mayor of Strasbourg Nawel Rafik-Elmrini on Tuesday welcomed the arrival of 30 new migrants from the "jungle" in Calais to the city.

The city has previously welcomed refugees from the largest slum in France, commonly referred to as the "jungle" of Calais, where thousands of migrants temporarily live in the hope of someday reaching Britain.

Following a decision by the French justice department to authorize the dismantling of the site, authorities on Monday began clearing out the area and displacing several refugees.

The French government announced that spots in reception centers would be made available across nation in order to receive migrants who left Calais.

Authorities said the new arrivals in Strasbourg were men from Sudan, Eritrea and, in one case, Chad. In October last year, several Africans and Afghans also came to Strasbourg, arriving by bus from Calais.

"Strasbourg, strong in its tradition as a place of welcome, receives nearly 200 asylum seekers every month within the terms of the redistribution project put in place by the European Union. We have otherwise launched a fund of 35,000 euros (37,937 U.S. dollars) in order to help associations which care for the children of refugees," Rafik-Elmrini said.

The EU last year agreed to redistribute 160,000 refugees between its member states. As of now, however, only some 600 people have been transferred.

France, for its part, committed to receive 30,000 refugees.

"To receive 30,000 people is absolutely possible. France can count 36,000 municipalities. That represents not even one person per municipality," said Rafik-Elmrini. Endit