French police conducted an operation at dawn on Wednesday to clear dozens of migrants, including families with young children, from the forecourt of Paris City Hall. Approximately 50 individuals, mostly women and children aged 3 months to 10 years, were removed from the plaza where they had been sleeping under blankets and plastic sheets to shield against the rain.
The migrants were relocated to temporary local government housing in the town of Besançon in eastern France. Concerns have been raised by aid workers that this action may signal a broader effort by Paris authorities to clear out migrants and individuals sleeping rough in the city ahead of the upcoming Olympic Games without providing adequate longer-term housing solutions.
Yann Manzi, a member of the migrant aid group Utopia 56, expressed worries about what he described as a form of social cleansing in the city. The migrants, many of whom come from French-speaking African countries such as Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, had been residing beneath the ornate facade of the Paris monument for varying lengths of time, with some staying for months.
Organizers of the Paris Games have stated that they are collaborating with aid groups to address the needs of those living on the streets, including individuals who have come to Paris from around the world in search of refuge or employment. Aid organizations like Utopia 56 have been providing essential supplies such as food, blankets, and diapers, as well as assisting some individuals in finding temporary accommodation for short periods.
One mother from Guinea, Fatoumata, shared her experience of spending a month sleeping on the streets of Paris with her two young children. She expressed relief at the prospect of moving to the provinces for better living conditions, highlighting the challenges of living without proper shelter and the toll it takes on families.
The Paris Games are scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.
For more information on migration, visit AP's migration coverage, and for updates on the Paris Olympics preparations, visit AP's coverage of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
