Police Clear Central Paris Square of Migrants in Preparation for the Olympics

French police removed dozens of migrants, including families with young children, from the forecourt of Paris City Hall as the capital gears up for the upcoming Olympic Games. The police operation took place at dawn, with about 50 people, mostly women and children aged 3 months to 10 years, being relocated to temporary government housing in Besançon.

Aid workers expressed concerns that this move could be the start of a broader effort by Paris authorities to clear out migrants and homeless individuals before the summer Olympics without providing long-term housing solutions. Yann Manzi from the migrant aid group Utopia 56 described the situation as a form of social cleansing in the city.

Many of the families affected are from French-speaking African countries such as Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Senegal. They had been sleeping outside Paris City Hall for days, weeks, and even months. Aid groups like Utopia 56 have been providing them with essentials like food, blankets, and diapers, as well as temporary lodging.

One mother, Fatoumata from Guinea, shared her experience of sleeping on the streets of Paris with her two young children for a month. She expressed relief at the prospect of moving to the provinces for a better life. The Paris Games are set to take place from July 26 to August 11, followed by the Paralympics from August 28 to September 8.