The French website Mediapart said that about 50 foreign youths who had been sheltered in the Essonne region near Paris, mostly from Guinea, Mali and Afghanistan, would be thrown into the street at the weekend, to give their place to refugees from Ukraine, although the province of Essonne denies this, citing other arguments.

In a report prepared by Najma Ibrahim, the website said that foreign youths at the Essonne accommodation center had received rumors two weeks ago, saying that they could be returned to the street soon to deal with the imminent arrival of Ukrainian refugees to Ile-de-France, and indeed, Utopia 56 Association for the Assistance of Expatriates, posted messages on the networks Social sent by a resident of the shelter foretells his concern about the possibility of expulsion.

"We were told that we would be expelled on March 15th. In the past two days many Ukrainians have arrived. Has the province ever expelled anyone? I'm afraid and I can't sleep," this foreign resident told a volunteer from Utopia 56 on March 8. The county - and if it postponed their expulsion - decided on Tuesday to remove them from the shelter, and gave them until Friday to leave the building before 5 pm, without offering any alternative solution.

Forty-nine young people, most of whom appealed to be recognized as minors, in order to obtain care by the Administrative Services for Social Assistance for Childhood, had been placed in this former Formula 1 hotel, which had been converted into an emergency shelter center, after a shelter operation organized by the prefectures of the Ile region. De France and Paris on January 19, 2022 in Bercy.


Confirm the parcel

"We slept for several weeks there under the bridge. We've always lived outside, this is the only house we have," Omar, 17, an Ivorian who arrived in France in July 2021 and claims to have had no solution to residency before, told the site. We have it in France.

On Tuesday, the head of the association that sponsors them, Grow Together, told them they would have to leave.

"He told us that the governorate wanted to expel us for a very long time, and that he tried to explain to them that we had nowhere to go. What we understood was that they had to make room for the Ukrainians. Many of them arrived at the center in buses, but for us, what to do? The same bus." The one who brought us here is going to take us back to Percy to sleep under a tent, because we have nowhere to go."

According to a number of sources close to the parents and the "Grow Up Ma'an" association, this is indeed a "sinful" exit.

One of them wonders, stressing that the province had been planning for two weeks to expel them in small groups to avoid drawing attention, "What will happen to these helpless people if they are returned to the street tomorrow?" Among the exiles on French soil, in the context of receiving refugees from Ukraine with dignity.

Eson County - when contacted by the site - confirmed the expulsion of the youth, but offered a different interpretation, as it explained that these young immigrants had been accepted in two sites, but their support under the Social Assistance for Childhood in the various departments, had been rejected and did not recognize their shortcomings, and the appeals they submitted It does not entitle them to support, so they are adults and subject to common law.

The boycott provided these young people from Guinea, Mali, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and Afghanistan the opportunity to visit its headquarters to submit an asylum application, considering that their chances of obtaining asylum were low because of their country of origin, and invited them to go to common law systems such as 115, stressing that this termination of care "It has nothing to do with receiving people from Ukraine. People from Ukraine were received in the same location in the presence of these young people. The places these young people are currently using are not intended to be used by Ukrainians. There are no plans for now to expand the number of places in this context."

However, several sources confirm that the Solidarity Distress Group (SOS / Solidarités), which has been in place for two weeks to escort the arrival of Ukrainian refugees, 50 of whom have arrived at the moment and 90 are expected, is already planning to restore rooms to receive the Ukrainians.


This is racist

The "Grow up Together" association was asking to continue its mission alongside the Ukrainians, knowing that these would replace the young foreigners inside the center, while the "Utopia 56" association hardly doubted the intentions of the boycott.

“Now the representatives on the ground tell us that all accommodations are reserved for the Ukrainians,” says Pierre Maturin, coordinator of Utopia 56 in Paris. “It is true that it is better to receive them with dignity, but this accommodation system must include all exiles. In Banten, about 60 Afghans are still sleeping. abroad for more than a month after taking over the Ibis hotel for the Ukrainians."

Another resident, Musa, 17, according to him, talks about his dismay. "Today we were supposed to study. Some go to school, and others take courses with the Right to School Association or Timi Association. But we decided not to go because we were not in peace." If the county or the "Grow up Together" president wants to speak to us, we must be present to express ourselves."

"For us, this is racism," says Aboubacar, 15, who has lived in France since December 2020. "Putting blacks outside and eggs in the shelter. When in fact we can live well here all together, with the Ukrainians. Why is he expelled?" Some to take care of others?” The Utopia 56 coordinator argues that it is “unacceptable” to bring supposedly minors back onto the streets without any alternative.

Morally, this is very difficult for them.

They thought they were out of the street and would come back.

They are terrified and call us every hour to see if a solution has been found."

The writer concluded by saying the three young men who spoke to the site, "We are shocked. We have faced many problems in this country. France is concerned with equality and brotherhood, but we have not seen any of that yet. There is no longer humanism in this country," noting that they do not intend to leave The building, and the educators accompanying them refused to intervene as they left the center on Friday.