Two days before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games, another reality of Paris is on display in front of the city hall of the 18th arrondissement of the capital. Dozens of homeless families have set up camp right in front of the building to denounce their situation. Some have spent the night there. In total, there are nearly 300 people, including a hundred children, the majority under the age of 3.
2 min
On the forecourt of the town hall, families are sitting on blankets on the ground, surrounded by dozens of strollers. They are mainly migrants of African origin, who have decided to come together to challenge the public authorities. The resources allocated to the most deprived are not increasing at the same rate as poverty and the holding of Olympic Games did not help with the disappearance, according to the associations, 3,000 places, reassigned for the occasion.
” When I gave birth, I was thrown out »
A young woman, visibly suffering, introduces us to little Kadija, who is only two weeks old. When I gave birth, I was thrown out. To this day, I still have to sleep on the street with the baby. ” she laments.
All these families tell of the ordeal of 115, the number they call every day in the hope of emergency accommodation. Even with a young child, the answers are too often negative.
” Sometimes 115 answers, sometimes it doesn’t. My baby is 7 months old. Since she was 3 months old, 115 hasn’t given any news. “, says a mother. ” From time to time, the 115 takes us a week. Afterwards, we are left “, said a second. ” We spend the night on the bus at the Saint-Lazare station. Next year, my daughter has to go to school. When your daughter is always dirty, she is not well dressed, I think about that a lot ” worries one last one.
This thirty-year-old Ivorian fears experiencing the same thing with his baby and his wife, still in hospital after giving birth.
” The doctors told me they can’t keep us, so I have to find a solution. It worries me a lot because he’s only 5 days old, I can’t put him outside ” he says sadly.
By setting up shop among passers-by, these families hope to emerge from the shadows and finally obtain a little respite from the state.
Read alsoFrance: 2024 Olympics make access to medical and social assistance difficult for undocumented immigrants