News / France

France evacuates refugee camp in Paris

Monday, 02 May 2016 5:57 PM [ Last Update: Monday, 02 May 2016 6:24 PM ]

This March 30, 2016 photo shows refugees queuing to get in a bus as they are evacuated by police officers and gendarmes from a makeshift camp under the Stalingrad railway station in Paris. (AFP photo)

French police have evacuated a makeshift camp in northern Paris that accommodated more than 1,000 refugees, a third attempt by authorities in as many months to clear the area from asylum-seekers.

The evacuation started shortly after 6:00 am in the Stalingrad metro station where officials transferred refugees to reception centers.

Officials said the operation involved 150 police officers and passed off largely without incident. They said many other refugees living in other parts of Paris also rushed to the area overnight demanding relocation to accommodation centers.

Some refugees said they were happy with the evacuation as they could finally find a better place to live.

“We're happy to leave," said Moustafa, a 24-year-old Afghan, adding, “There were fights every night at the camp.”

The refugees in the filthy camp were mainly from Sudan and Afghanistan and hoped to find their way through to Britain.

Officials said that those who do not officially request asylum will be expelled from France.

“Those who do not request asylum or who behave badly will be expelled,” said Jean-Francois Carenco, the prefect of the Ile de France area that includes Paris, adding, “France is not a place for disorder and chaos.”

France has been grappling with the influx of refugees over the last 18 months as reports have emerged from the northern port city of Calais showing frequent clashes between police and refugees protesting poor living conditions in the camps.

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