- Title: French authorities open new shelter for migrant women and children
- Date: 16th January 2017
- Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - NOVEMBER 25, 2016) (REUTERS) BIG TENT OF MIGRANT RECEPTION CENTRE AT LA CHAPELLE IN 18TH DISTRICT VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS IN THE CENTRE'S COMMON AREA VARIOUS OF CENTRE'S CANTEEN VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS SLEEPING IN THE CENTRE
- Embargoed: 30th January 2017 14:20
- Keywords: migrants Paris Bruno Le Roux Anne Hidalgo Emmanuelle Cosse shelter humanitarian
- Location: IVRY-SUR-SEINE AND PARIS, FRANCE
- City: IVRY-SUR-SEINE AND PARIS, FRANCE
- Country: France
- Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA0035ZBZEPZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The French government opened a new migrant shelter dedicated to women and small families on Monday (January 16) at Ivry-sur-Seine, a suburb southeast of Paris.
It follows the opening of a migrant reception centre last November in northern Paris, which houses male migrants.
The centre in Ivry-sur-Seine was inaugurated by Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, French Interior Minister Bruno Le Roux and French Housing Minister Emmanuelle Cosse.
"This centre will welcome families and isolated women, in particular. It opens in a few days, block by block, because it's still in different phases of construction," Cosse said, adding that the centre will managed by Emmaus Solidarite, a charity that was also tasked with running the other centre in Paris's 18th district.
The first occupants will be arriving later this week, and the centre will be fully operational by March, with a capacity for 400 migrants.
The "La Chapelle centre" in the 18th district, meanwhile, serves as a temporary shelter for migrant men. They can stay at the centre up to 10 days, until the government has worked out a more permanent solution for them.
Hidalgo said the "La Chapelle centre" has already reduced the migrant population living on the streets.
"Since the opening of this centre (La Chapelle centre in the 18th district), we have received almost 4,000 people. 4,000 people is the size of the migrant camp that was dismantled at the Jean Jaures Boulevard in Paris. Therefore, we have avoided the creation of a new camp. So this centre at La Chapelle fulfils its objective," Hidalgo said.
Migrants will be able to stay in the new shelter for three to six months, and afterwards they will be redirected to more permanent housing solutions. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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