[An image of a street in Paris, France. Photo Credit to Unsplash]

Thousands of homeless people have been removed from the streets of Paris and nearby areas in France ahead of the Olympic Games, which are set to officially begin on July 26th.

The upcoming 2024 games have been met with huge anticipation, with President Emmanuel Macron personally promising earlier in the year that the events would show the very best of France.

In preparation for the massive influx of tourists and athletes from around the world, the French government has undertaken an initiative to relocate the homeless population from the capital.

Since mid-March this year, regional authorities have been instructed to create temporary accommodation facilities to house individuals transported out of Paris.

The move sparked controversy after it was revealed in a report by the newspaper L’Equipe.

Critics were quick to respond, noting that the government had previously denied any connection between the relocations and the Olympics.

More than 60 international organizations condemned the action as a form of “social cleansing,” accusing the government of attempting to create a polished image of Paris at the expense of its most vulnerable residents.

Paul Alauzy, the spokesperson for “Le revers de la médaille”(The other side of the medal), a collective of 75 social associations, expressed concern about the impact on those being moved, especially for migrants and asylum seekers who have already faced significant hardships.

Local officials in the regions designated to receive the relocated individuals also voiced their opposition.

Philippe Salmon, the Mayor of Bruz in northwest Brittany, is just one of many who spoke against establishing new centers in their towns, arguing that they are already struggling to provide sufficient services to its existing populations.

Anne Hidalgo, the Mayor of Paris, also criticized the government’s approach and emphasized that the city has already been working hard to find urgent accommodation for vulnerable people.

Hidalgo’s administration has been actively involved in housing families and addressing the needs of the homeless within the city limits, and she has expressed frustration at being asked to relocate these efforts to other regions.

Many critics of the relocation strategy argue that it disrupts the lives of homeless individuals and displaces them from the communities and support networks they rely on.

Advocacy groups in return have called for more sustainable and humane solutions to address homelessness, rather than temporary measures that prioritize the city’s image over citizens’ well-being.

The French government has maintained that the relocations are necessary to manage the anticipated accommodation crunch and that relocated individuals will be better off.

However, the debate over the ethics and implications of this strategy continues to intensify, with reports from relocated individuals claiming they were suddenly forced to move and that police officers lied about the housing and social help that would be provided to get them on the bus to another city.

As Paris gears up to host a significant international sporting event, the city’s preparations underscore the complex and often contentious relationship between urban development, social policy, and human rights.

Concerns over the unsafe and unhygienic conditions of the River Seine have also added to the growing list of issues surrounding the Olympic preparations.