The things left behind in the Calais migrant camp
They made their way to the squalid camp in the French port of Calais from Afghanistan, Sudan, Ethiopia and beyond, some fleeing war, others poverty, all dreaming of a better life in Britain.
Some made it across the English Channel. Those who did not, thousands of them, spent months in the temporary society they'd built, sleeping in tents or shacks. As it grew, their sprawling camp became emblematic of Europe's migrant crisis.
French authorities cleared them out in just three days this week, the evacuation hastened when some of them set fire to parts of the camp. More than 5,000 were taken to centers elsewhere in France where they can get help applying for asylum. Britain took in some who already have family living there. And the rest said they plan to stay in the area, taking their chances and hoping they can still make it to Britain.
In this Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 photograph, playing cards lay abandoned outside a shelter in the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
They took only what they could cram into knapsacks and duffel bags. In their haste to flee the fires, or simply because they were out of room, they abandoned dolls, shoes, DVDs, a Bible. Here, by AP photographers Emilio Morenatti, Thibault Camus and Matt Dunham, is a look at the things they left behind.
In this Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 photograph, shoes lay abandoned in the entranceway of a tent in the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
In this Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 DVD movies left behind by migrants in an abandoned tent at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In this Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 photo, plastic flowers are tied with tape to a pole of an abandoned tent at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In this Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 photo, personal items left behind by their migrant owner remain laid out neatly in an abandoned tent at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In this Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 photo, a dictionary remains over other belongings left behind by migrants in an abandoned tent at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In this Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 photo, a broken guitar hangs in an abandoned tent at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In this Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 photo, bread and coffee is left behind by migrants in an abandoned caravan at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In this Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016 photo, cuddly toys remain inside a tent let behind by their owners at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In this Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 photo, a child's book left behind on the floor of a shelter by migrants in an abandoned tent at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
In this Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 photo, a case containing pencils next to a calculator left behind by migrants in an abandoned tent at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In this Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 photo, a copy of the Bible remains over other belongings left behind by migrants, in an abandoned tent at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In this Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 photo, a burnt bicycle remains on the floor of a charred tent at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
In this Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016 photo, a swing used by migrants hangs from a tree at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
In this Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016 photo, a flag of Portugal waves next to burning tents, abandoned by their owners at the makeshift migrant camp known as "the jungle" near Calais, northern France. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)
Text from AP news story, AP PHOTOS: The things left behind in the Calais migrant camp, by Emilio Morenatti.
Photos by Emilio Morenatti, Thibault Camus and Matt Dunham
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Visual artist and Digital Storyteller at The Associated Press
