Rights activists tell French authorities to feed immigrants

French human rights activists stopped feeding migrants yesterday in Calais, where hundreds are camped in the hope of illegally crossing into Britain, to force French authorities to take over.

About 200 migrants gathered at Calais port in northern France for the daily distribution of hot lunches provided by volunteers but instead were given only tea and bananas.

"The situation is becoming impossible. There are more and more migrants, we can't cope. The number of migrants goes up but not the number of volunteers," said Monique Delannoy, head of La Belle Etoile (Under the Stars), one of the groups involved.

Non-governmental groups have taken on the task of caring for migrants camping in and around Calais since a large Red Cross centre at nearby Sangatte was shut down in 2002.

Sangatte was opened in 1999 to cater for thousands of people who flocked to the area in the hope of hiding on ferries to Britain or in trucks crossing the Channel Tunnel.

Sangatte was closed in 2002 by then-Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, now France's President, under pressure from Britain which argued Sangatte was a magnet for illegal immigrants.

Many of the migrants are trying to reach friends and families already in Britain while others believe they have a better chance of finding work there.

"We have been dealing with this problem for six years, since Sangatte was closed, but the French state and local authorities should be the ones taking charge of this humanitarian work," said Jean-Pierre Boutoille, a spokesman for the aid workers.

Calais city hall said it was searching for an alternative solution to the charity meals, but gave no details.

Volunteers said there had been a surge in migrants in recent months, particularly from, Eritrea, Sudan and Afghanistan.

"There are more than 500 migrants in Calais," said Sylvie Copyans, a member of the Salam volunteer group.