On Monday night, a huge fire ripped through the Grand-Synthe refugee camp outside the northern French city of Dunkirk. The fire destroyed 80 per cent of the camp, including community spaces, kitchens, the women’s and children’s centres and the wooden shelters that housed more than 1,500 migrants. “There is nothing left but a heap of ashes,” said Michel Lalande, prefect of France’s Nord region, at the site.
Reports from the ground suggest that the fire began after a fight broke out between rival Afghan and Kurdish groups in the camp. The situation escalated after intervention from French riot police, which led to further clashes between security forces and residents and left at least 10 people injured. Fortunately, no one is reported to have died.
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