Human Rights Watch pressed France on Wednesday to end what it described as recurrent police violence against migrants in the northern town of Calais, where hundreds have returned despite the demolition of a sprawling camp once known as "the jungle". In a report entitled "Like Living in Hell", the U.S.-based rights group said police routinely abused migrants in the hope of having them leave the coastal city. Based on interviews conducted with some 60 migrants in the area, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said police had used pepper spray on child and adult migrants while they were sleeping, regularly sprayed or confiscated sleeping bags and clothing, and sometimes destroyed food and water. "The prefect stresses that anyone who believes their rights are threatened has the option of referring it to the relevant judicial authorities. New president Emmanuel Macron last month promised migrants would be treated humanely after France's human rights watchdog was fiercely critical of the living conditions they face.

Source: Ethiopian News July 27, 2017 09:00 UTC