Paris to open first urban refugee camp by mid-October | CNN

Paris to open its first urban refugee camps this year

By Angela Dewan, for CNN
2 minute read
Updated 11:31 AM EDT, Tue September 6, 2016
France refugee camp 3
Julien Beller/Courtesy Paris Mayor's Office

Story highlights

The first camp will be open by mid-October

In Paris, there is "an unprecedented flow of migrants"

CNN  — 

Paris will soon set up its first urban camps for refugees – one in mid-October and another later in the year – the city’s mayor announced Tuesday, just hours after an uninhabited migrant camp was reportedly set on fire south of the city.

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A visualization of a new migrant camp being built in Paris.
A visualization of a new migrant camp being built in Paris.
Julien Beller/Courtesy Paris Mayor's Office

Mayor Anne Hidalgo gave details of the city’s plans for two camps, the first of which is being built on the northern fringe of the city – primarily to accommodate men for short-term stays. It has 400 beds and will have 200 more in the near future, she said.

It would also offer services to homeless newly arrived migrants, such as social care, legal aid, health and psychological care, and information on where else to find shelter, Hidalgo said in a statement.

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“In the past two years, Paris has experienced an unprecedented flow of migrants. Every day, dozens of migrants arrive on our territory,” Hidalgo said, adding that the city has already welcomed around 15,000 refugees.

TOPSHOT - An Iranian migrant with sewn lips, holds a placard reading "where is your democracy? where is our freedom?", as he demonstrates during the demolition of the southern part of the so-called "Jungle" migrant camp, on March 2, 2016, in Calais. French demolition workers set about razing makeshift shelters in the "Jungle" migrant camp for a third day on March 2, 2016 under close watch of dozens of police officers equipped with water cannon. The destruction of the southern half of the sprawling shantytown in the northern port city of Calais, where thousands of migrants and refugees have gathered in the hope of finding passage to England, has sparked often violent resistance from residents. / AFP / PHILIPPE HUGUEN (Photo credit should read PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images)
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Clashes break amid Calais camp relocation (March 2016)
02:16 - Source: CNN

“However, makeshift camps continue to emerge in the public space. They are unhealthy and dangerous, and the migrants are living under shameful conditions. This has also become a source of disturbance for residents in the neighborhood.”

Paris is building two new refugee camps to provide emergency accommodation to refugees.
Paris is building two new refugee camps to provide emergency accommodation to refugees.
Julien Beller/Courtesy Paris Mayor's Office

A second camp in the city’s southeast is under construction in an old waterworks site and will open in late 2016, Hidalgo said. It would be dedicated to serving the most vulnerable groups, particularly families, single women and children, she said.

Migrant camp ablaze

Hidalgo had announced the camps earlier this year, but on Tuesday painted a picture of what they would look like.

Her comments come as an empty camp set up for migrants in Essonne, south of Paris, was seen ablaze overnight. French media reports suggest the fire was deliberately set in the area, where there has been fierce opposition to the camp.

The camp sprawls over about 40 acres of sand dunes once used for landfill, with different nationalities in different sections.
The camp sprawls over about 40 acres of sand dunes once used for landfill, with different nationalities in different sections.
Florence Davey-Attlee/CNN
Mohammed is from Sudan. "Life is very hard in Sudan," he says. "I want to go to England to get a good education. There is very good education in England and I already speak English."
Mohammed is from Sudan. "Life is very hard in Sudan," he says. "I want to go to England to get a good education. There is very good education in England and I already speak English."
Florence Davey-Attlee/CNN
Some local residents, resigned to staying in the camp at least semipermanently, have taken jobs. This is Alpha, from North Africa, who has become the local builder. He uses materials donated by local French people.
Some local residents, resigned to staying in the camp at least semipermanently, have taken jobs. This is Alpha, from North Africa, who has become the local builder. He uses materials donated by local French people.
Florence Davey-Attlee/CNN
A local charity hands out food. People cover up their faces when the cameras are around because they don't want their families at home to see them in these conditions. Many people tell their families they are doing well in Europe.
A local charity hands out food. People cover up their faces when the cameras are around because they don't want their families at home to see them in these conditions. Many people tell their families they are doing well in Europe.
Florence Davey-Attlee/CNN
The hospital tent is run by Medecins du Monde. They see many broken arms and legs, as well as cuts and scrapes after people have tried to climb into trucks and over fences. They are also seeing scabies and respiratory infections from the living conditions in the camp and the dust.
The hospital tent is run by Medecins du Monde. They see many broken arms and legs, as well as cuts and scrapes after people have tried to climb into trucks and over fences. They are also seeing scabies and respiratory infections from the living conditions in the camp and the dust.
Florence Davey-Attlee/CNN
The Eritrean/Ethiopian Christian Orthodox church in the camp is made from materials donated by local people including local churches. Around 100 people pray here every day, according to the pastor, who is a migrant himself.
The Eritrean/Ethiopian Christian Orthodox church in the camp is made from materials donated by local people including local churches. Around 100 people pray here every day, according to the pastor, who is a migrant himself.
Florence Davey-Attlee/CNN
A sign reads "no credit" in three languages. Shopkeepers don't give loans to customers who they know might be on a truck across the English Channel the next day.
A sign reads "no credit" in three languages. Shopkeepers don't give loans to customers who they know might be on a truck across the English Channel the next day.
Florence Davey-Attlee/CNN
The local school, where migrants can learn French, recently opened.
The local school, where migrants can learn French, recently opened.
Florence Davey-Attlee/CNN
Saeed is from Afghanistan. "I want to go now to England," he says. "Maybe I get some chance there to keep some opportunity for my life. I have a future, I'm 25 years old. England gives me more opportunity, because you can work there. In France you cannot work."
Saeed is from Afghanistan. "I want to go now to England," he says. "Maybe I get some chance there to keep some opportunity for my life. I have a future, I'm 25 years old. England gives me more opportunity, because you can work there. In France you cannot work."
Florence Davey-Attlee/CNN
Desperate, determined and aiming for England

Hidalgo described the action as a “disgrace,” according to CNN affiliate BMFTV.

“Whoever did this should be incredibly ashamed of themselves. If they think this is what our country’s value are about, they are wrong. It is despicable, deplorable, and criminal to act this way. I hope that we will find them and sanction them,” she said.

migrant twins born sea wedeman pkg_00000827.jpg
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Migrant twins born at sea
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The plans for the camps also come after French Interior Minister Bernard Cazaneueve pledged to close down the notorious camp in Calais known as “The Jungle,” where migrants are still living in the thousands in squalid conditions.

The new camps will be run by international charity Emmaus, which says one of its main objectives is to organize solidarity by pooling resources between member organizations.

Journalists Camille Verdier and Sandrine Amiel contributed to this report.