French Gov't Plans to Shelter 12,000 Migrants Living in Makeshift Camps

French government plans to provide accommodation to 12,000 migrants who are currently residing in makeshift camps across the country, local media reported Tuesday, citing a document from the Interior Ministry.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The government intends to equip a total of 8,200 new places nationwide in addition to existing 3,000 till the end of October and to distribute migrants from their provisional camps in Calais and Paris, the plan seen by Le Figaro that sets guidelines for French regional authorities indicated.

"A scheme to mobilize shelters across the country was adopted in a bid to accommodate migrants from Calais and Paris," the newspaper quoted the document, as saying.

The Calais refugee camp is currently home to thousands of migrants who are staying in northern France in the hope of crossing to the United Kingdom.

The camp, also known as "The Jungle," is notorious for its squalid conditions, the numerous attempts of its inhabitants to break into the Channel Tunnel in a desperate bid to reach the United Kingdom and multiple police raids.