First humanitarian centre for migrants opens in Paris

Record ID: 79344

  • Title: First humanitarian centre for migrants opens in Paris
  • Date: 10th November 2016
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (RECENT - NOVEMBER 4, 2016) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MIGRANTS WAITING IN STREET AMONGST TENTS MIGRANTS QUEUING FOR ACCESS TO BUSES HEADED TO WELCOME CENTRES VARIOUS OF MAKESHIFT CAMP BEING CLEARED FRENCH RIOT POLICE WEARING MASKS
  • Embargoed: 25th November 2016 14:45
  • Keywords: Migrants welcome centre Paris camp
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Asylum/Immigration/Refugees,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA00357V2F5Z
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: French authorities opened a welcome centre in Paris on Thursday (November 10) where migrants will be able to rest and be given advice on asylum procedures.
    Last week police cleared a makeshift camp where over 3,000 migrants were sleeping rough on the capital's pavement.
    Built in the north of Paris, this new humanitarian centre can welcome up to 400 people - 600 by the end of the year - and is entirely dedicated to single men. The city of Paris specified this camp is temporary while waiting for state-wide long-term solutions with residents spending a maximum of ten days there.
    "Paris is facing an influx of migrants. 30 evacuations in the last 18 months, 22,000 have been redirected elsewhere but despite that, camps were popping up again. As from this morning, a migrant who arrives in Paris has an access point where he'll be able to rest, we'll register his situation the same day and will be able to redirect him," said Bruno Morel, the director of Emmaus Solidarite, a charity helping the migrants.
    The centre, designed by German architect Hans-Walter Muller, will offer all the needed facilities, including the possibility to see a doctor.
    The structure offers shelter to vulnerable people for a short period before they are redirected to another centre elsewhere in France to start their asylum applications.
    "In order to think about the future they (the migrants) need to sleep, eat, wash, rest, have medical checks, have these basics in order to have a clear mind, but also information on what they can obtain and what they can't obtain," said Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo while on a visit ahead of the centre's opening.
    This humanitarian centre is a way for authorities to avoid makeshift camps appearing on the streets of Paris.
    French authorities evacuated such a camp on November 4 where over 3,800 migrants were living in difficult conditions.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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