More than 1600 migrants were bused to new shelters across France today as authorities prepared to dismantle the notorious "Jungle" camp in Calais, a last stop for those desperate to cross the English Channel and enter Britain.
France maintains it is closing the camp for humanitarian reasons and to end the stateless limbo for thousands of migrants, many of whom have made unsuccessful attempts to cross the channel.
But the camp also has become a glaring symbol of Europe's struggle to cope with a massive influx of migrants and refugees since last year, many from war-torn places such as Syria and Afghanistan.
There were worries that some migrants in Calais would not leave the camp without a fight. In a demolition attempt earlier this year, police used tear gas on migrants, some of whom threw rocks at police while others stitched their lips shut in protest.
The Interior Ministry has said that France "does not want to use force" but will not hesitate to intervene to quell unrest. Yesterday French media broadcast images of skirmishes between migrants and police as authorities distributed leaflets about the camp's closure.