UN human rights experts on Wednesday urged France [press release] to provide adequate emergency shelter, access to drinking water and sanitation facilities, to thousands of migrants living in camps on the northern French coast.

“Migrants, regardless of their status,” the experts stated, “are entitled to human rights without discrimination, including access to adequate housing, education, healthcare, water and sanitation as well as access to justice and remedies. By depriving them of their rights or making access increasingly difficult, France is violating its international human rights obligations.”

Last year, France’s highest administrative court ordered [JURIST report] ordered the French government to provide sanitation, health and safety services to migrants. The UN experts found that although France has taken temporary steps to improve living conditions for migrants, many still face substandard conditions.

EU member states have received ongoing criticism [JURIST report] for their response to the migrant crisis. UN experts have previously called for comprehensive solutions [JURIST report] to address the depth of the crisis.