Migrants queue for food distribution in Calais -

PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP

  • Since September 10, a prefectural decree has banned certain associations from distributing food to migrants in Calais.

  • A measure contested in court by associations which were unsuccessful before the administrative court of Lille.

The associations of aid to migrants did not succeed.

The Lille administrative court on Tuesday rejected their request to suspend the prefectural decree prohibiting them from distributing food and drinks to migrants in the center of Calais

The court noted that an association mandated by the State, Vie Active, made available to migrants "water on the basis of an average of 5.14 liters per person per day and meals to the number of 2,402 per day, ”according to a statement posted on its website.

"This situation does not characterize unworthy living conditions"

He also notes that the associations of aid to migrants who contested this decree "continued to distribute meals and drinks near the city center", the ban having had the sole effect of moving the places of distributions "by a few hundred meters ”.

The court therefore considers that "this situation does not characterize unworthy living conditions such as to justify the emergency suspension" of this decree taken on September 10 by the prefect of Pas-de-Calais.

Appeal to come before the Council of State

"This is a missed opportunity," lamented the lawyer for the 13 NGOs and migrant aid associations who had seized the court, Me Patrice Spinosi, indicating his intention to appeal to the Council of State to obtain a real debate on the substance.

Our file on migrants

This decree represents "an unbearable limitation of the right of associations to help the most vulnerable people", he lambasted, a few days after having invoked the principle of fraternity at the hearing.

The prefect justified the ban by the “nuisances” caused by the distributions, and considers that they do not allow proper compliance with social distancing measures made necessary by the Covid-19 pandemic.

He underlines that the association La Vie Active already provides for the needs of migrants.

Society

Migrants in Calais: Associations demand the cancellation of the ban on distributing meals to migrants

Lille

Migrants in Calais: The prefecture prohibits the distribution of meals by non-mandated associations

  • Justice

  • Calais

  • Migrants

  • Lille