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Paris Police Clear Out Migrant Camp and Destroy Tents Paris Police Clear Out Migrant Camp and Destroy Tents
(about 2 hours later)
PARIS — The French police evacuated hundreds of migrants from a camp in Paris early Tuesday in the latest attempt to control a growing population of migrants arriving on European shores after crossing the Mediterranean Sea. PARIS — The French police evacuated hundreds of migrants from a camp in Paris early Tuesday in the latest attempt to control a growing population of migrants arriving on European shores after crossing the Mediterranean Sea.
Officials and humanitarian associations supervising the operation said the 380 migrants, most from East African countries like Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia, were told to gather their belongings and were then led to buses that took them away. Immediately after, the authorities bulldozed through the tents. Officials and humanitarian associations supervising the operation said the 380 migrants, most from East African countries like Sudan, Eritrea and Ethiopia, had been told to gather their belongings and then led to buses that took them away. Immediately after, the authorities bulldozed through the tents.
Some of the migrants, including women and children, had spent months in the camp, where hundreds of tents took root under an elevated subway line in north central Paris. The camp was near a major rail station and not far from the Sacré-Coeur basilica, a popular tourist attraction. Some of the migrants, including women and children, had spent months in the camp, where hundreds of tents took root under an elevated Métro line in north central Paris. The camp was near a major rail station and not far from the Sacré-Coeur basilica, a popular tourist attraction.
Bruno Morel, the general manager of Emmaüs Solidarité, an association that provided aid for the migrants, said that the camp took shape last fall, and that the number of migrants had swelled. Mr. Morel, who oversaw the evacuation, said living conditions in the camp were “catastrophic.” Bruno Morel, the general manager of Emmaüs Solidarité, an association that provided aid for the migrants, said that the camp had taken shape last fall, and that the number of migrants had swelled. Mr. Morel, who oversaw the evacuation, said living conditions in the camp were “catastrophic.”
“When nearly 400 people are living in a public area, in the cold, sleeping on the ground and curling up in makeshift tents, without water or electricity, these aren’t even the most basic living conditions,” Mr. Morel said in a telephone interview. “When nearly 400 people are living in a public area, in the cold, sleeping on the ground and curling up in makeshift tents without water or electricity, these aren’t even the most basic living conditions,” Mr. Morel said in a telephone interview.
The camp is one of many that have been popping up throughout Europe. Many of the migrants are headed north, where the economy is stronger and, in some cases, the asylum rules less stringent, and the camps have become a sort of underground railroad for them. The camp was one of many that have been popping up throughout Europe. Many of the migrants are headed north, where the economy is stronger and, in some cases, the asylum rules less stringent.
Last month, the authorities in Rome rolled over a migrant camp that had been in existence for two decades because it was being flooded with newcomers on their way north from the Italian coasts. Last month, the authorities in Rome cleared a camp that had been in existence for two decades because it was being flooded with newcomers on their way north from the Italian coasts.
The Paris operation unfolded as the European Union continues to debate how to deal with the flow of migrants. France and Germany have come out against European Commission plans to spread the 40,000 migrants expected to arrive over the next two years more evenly among member states.The Paris operation unfolded as the European Union continues to debate how to deal with the flow of migrants. France and Germany have come out against European Commission plans to spread the 40,000 migrants expected to arrive over the next two years more evenly among member states.
Bernard Boucault, the Paris police chief, said in a statement that the camp had to be evacuated because of tensions between migrants and “particularly alarming” hygienic conditions, including health risks like scabies or dysentery. Bernard Boucault, the Paris police chief, said in a statement that the camp had been evacuated because of tensions among migrants and “particularly alarming” conditions, including health risks like scabies and dysentery.
Mr. Morel said about 40 percent of the 380 migrants were seeking asylum in France, while the others were in transit to other destinations. City social services took asylum seekers to housing made available to those in the process of applying for asylum, he said, while the other migrants were taken to shelters.Mr. Morel said about 40 percent of the 380 migrants were seeking asylum in France, while the others were in transit to other destinations. City social services took asylum seekers to housing made available to those in the process of applying for asylum, he said, while the other migrants were taken to shelters.
Mr. Morel said the French state and the city of Paris had to do more to coordinate with humanitarian associations to better “support and assist these people who have been through harrowing migratory journeys.” Mr. Morel said the French government and the city of Paris had to do more to coordinate with humanitarian associations to better “support and assist these people who have been through harrowing migratory journeys.”
Scandinavian countries and Britain are more popular destinations for refugees than France, which has very strict asylum procedures. Last year, while the number of asylum applicants registered in the European Union jumped 44 percent from 2013, the number of applicants registered in France decreased by 5 percent, according to Eurostat figures. Scandinavian countries and Britain are more popular destinations for migrants than France, which has very strict asylum procedures. Last year, while the number of asylum applicants registered in the European Union jumped 44 percent from 2013, the number of applicants registered in France decreased by 5 percent, according to Eurostat figures.
Many migrants passing through France make their way to Calais, a northern coastal town that has long been a gateway to Britain, and where the police also evacuated 140 migrants from two camps on Tuesday, according to Agence-France Presse. Many migrants passing through France make their way to Calais, a northern coastal town that has long been a gateway to Britain, and where the police also evacuated 140 migrants from two camps on Tuesday, according to Agence France-Presse.
Chief Boucault told reporters at a news conference on Tuesday that another migrant camp near the Gare d’Austerlitz on the left bank of Paris would be evacuated in the coming days.