Jump to content

Police evacuate migrant families from Paris sidewalks 


webfact

Recommended Posts

Police evacuate migrant families from Paris sidewalks 
ANGELA CHARLTON, Associated Press

 

PARIS (AP) — Police and city officials are evacuating at least 1,600 migrants from Afghanistan, Sudan, Eritrea and elsewhere who have been living on the streets of northern Paris for weeks, authorities said, in the latest of a string of attempts to find solutions for Europe's migration crisis.

 

City Hall said two operations were carried out Friday morning on a stretch of pavement underneath an elevated metro line not far from the Montmartre neighborhood. One focused on about 80 women and children in the makeshift camp, while the other focused on the men, according to a statement from City Hall.

 

An official with the Paris regional administration said more than 1,000 people had been transported to temporary shelters by mid-morning, while authorities estimate about 1,600 to 1,800 migrants had been living at the site overall. They are being bused to 74 sites around the Paris region where authorities will give them food and medical treatment and help those who are eligible apply for asylum.

 

The regional administration official said a minority of the migrants refused to be shuttled to temporary shelters, some because they want to try to get to Britain instead. The official is not authorized to be publicly named.

 

Paris authorities have carried out several similar operations this year in the same area, most recently a month ago, but it remains a magnet for migrants. The mayor says several dozen migrants arrive every day and is planning a reception center for them nearby.

 

France has come under criticism for its handling of Europe's migrant crisis, notably for allowing thousands to live in squalid conditions in a camp in the northern city of Calais.

___

Alex Turnbull contributed to this report.

 
ap_logo.jpg
-- © Associated Press 2016-09-16
Link to comment
Share on other sites


Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.








×
×
  • Create New...