UN Official Urges Europe to Address Migration Situation Humanely

"Let's treat the crisis as a civil emergency," Cochetel said on Friday.

The official said he believed the migrant crisis was largely the result of uncoordinated and partial application of the common European asylum system by the EU countries.

Cochetel said the situation was "manageable" and "will continue" because "you cannot change geography."

The head of the UN agency also called for a revision in the asylum-taking procedures in order to speed up the process.

The UNHCR also criticized Britain for refusing to consider applications from individuals who have proven links with the United Kingdom, Press TV reported.

"We call on the United Kingdom and other countries of the European Union to work in collaboration with the French authorities," the statement said.

An estimated 3,000 migrants are staying in an overcrowded migrant camp set up by the French government in Calais.

Many of those staying in the camp are in search of a chance to reach the UK by crossing the Channel Tunnel.

Some of the migrants in Calais have tried to stow away on vehicles headed for the UK through the Tunnel, while others have tried to climb or cut security fences and hitch a ride on Eurotunnel shuttles.

Calais is a major French ferry port attached to the UK by the Channel Tunnel, measuring 50.5 kilometers (31 miles) in length.