PARIS, THE SHELTER CITY (France)

In October 2015, the municipality presented eighteen commitments in a document entitled "Mobilizing the Paris community to welcome refugees". The document opens with this sentence: "Paris, like other refugee cities, will rise to the challenge of welcoming the many migrants currently arriving in Europe."
One year on, and with the city of Paris already struggling to fulfill its commitment, the dismantling of the Calais Jungle in October 2016 has led to some refugees retreating to the capital. Camps then sprang up, notably in north-east Paris on the banks of the Canal Saint Martin, then at Porte de la Chapelle and Porte d'Aubervilliers. The dismantling of these camps has continued apace. Since June 2015, 300 evacuations and "shelters" of refugees have taken place in Paris and its inner suburbs. These settlements, followed by their evacuation, give the image of an identical repetition of a catastrophic situation of precariousness and a lack of public action. Invisibilized since the last dismantling operations, the exile populations find themselves rejected on the outskirts of the capital. Only a few associations still manage to maintain contact by seeking out the living quarters of those left behind.

Under the gaze of the barges, refugees set up camp on the banks of the Saint-Martin canal. They spend the night in tents despite the freezing temperatures. February 7, 2018. Paris. France.

A group of refugees are warming up near a fire on the banks of the St Martin canal. In the streets of the capital, migrants often of Guinean, Eritrean, Pakistani and Afghan origin spend their time in the cold. February 7, 2018. Paris. France.

Tents covered with snow in the porte de la Chapelle district in the northern part of Paris. Paris, France. February 2018.

Two refugees line up under the snow to get a place in the humanitarian center of Porte de la Chapelle. The two men are made repressed since respectively 5 and 7 days for lack of space. February 8, 2018. Paris. France.

A man comes out of his tent while the cleaning crews are emptying the camp. The police are supposed to ensure that the tents are empty before the intervention of the cleaning services. This is the 35th dismantling in Paris for 3 years. May, 2018. Paris, France.

Refugees are evacuated by the police from the «Millénaire» camp in north of Paris. Paris, France. May 2018.

Several refugees are gathered to honor the death of Karim Ibrahim, a young Sudanese migrant who died near the rst humaniraire center, La Bulle, located in the north of Paris. This place, installed in November 2016 by the city of Paris and is managed by Emmaus. March 11, 2018. Paris. France.

Distribution of food in the Anais Nin garden by restos du cœur. Those who have been mandated by the mayor of Paris as well as the Aurore association to take care of food distributions. They are dissidents in the evening and in the morning from Tuesday to Friday. About 500 meals are distributed. August 17, 2018. Paris. France.

Migrants roam in a park near the Aubervilliers gate. Every evening, a rally is organized for food distributions. The police then evacuate the scene so that no one can settle permanently in the park. Paris, France.

Under the Porte de la Chapelle interchange, dozens of tents have been set up. Kwendé, a Guinean, arrived in France three weeks ago. He went through Tripoli and then spent three years in Italy before arriving here. Francophone, he thought only of France where he hopes to find work. Even if the conditions are extreme, he doesn't give up hope and prefers to be here rather when in Italy. May 03, 2019. Paris, France.

After being driven to the Paris side by the security forces, a group of Eritrean refugees settled in
on the other side of the ring road. Paris, France. September. 2018.

Refugees sleep on mattresses along President Wilson Avenue. Saint-Denis, France. September 2018.

An Afghan refugee says his prayer on one of the separation strips on the northern Paris ring road. Paris, France.
July 2019.

View of part of the Aubervilliers gate camp. The refugees have settled on the owerbeds along the Parisian periphery. Made up of tents and wooden barracks, this camp would have 1,500 people.

Rare moment of relaxation. Afghans and Pakistanis meet to play cricket. July 2019. Paris, France.

During an operation to shelter refugees from camps in northern Paris, men try to escape the police. Dublines and irregular refugees avoid sheltering for fear of being deported. Paris, France. October 3, 2019.

Women wait to board buses during an operation to shelter refugees in the various camps north of Paris. November 07, 2019. Paris. France.

Shelter operation for refugees living in the north of Paris. Refugees line up to board the buses. One of the many camps located on the edge of the Porte ofAubervilliers ring road was evacuated. According to associations there are 3,200 people currently living in the streets in Paris. Paris, France. October 3, 2019.

Aubervilliers refugee camp after the evacuation operation

A group of Afghan refugees enjoy tea offered by members of the “Wilson Migrant Collective”. In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, refugees and people on the street are forgotten by the containment system. April 4, 2020. Saint Denis, France.

Refugees have set up their tents under a huge tree to be hidden from view from the street. April 4, 2020. Saint Denis, France.

Distribution of food not far from the Aubervilliers gate. Since the last dismantling, the refugees have been pushed back to the Saint Denis canal and its surroundings. Scattered in small groups of no more than twenty tents, they endure confinement as double punishment. April 7, 2020. Saint Denis, France.

A new refugee camp has been set up for a few weeks, near the Stade de France, in the town of Saint Denis (93). Between 600 and 800 people settled in tents under the A1 motorway bridge. September 19, 2020. Paris, France.

Farid has his hair cut by an Afghan friend. Farid is a musician, he fleed his country after several threats from the Taliban. September 19, 2020. Saint Denis, France.

General view of the Saint Denis encampment about to be dismantled by the police. Between 1,500 and 2,000 people had lived in an unsanitary camp for several months. November 17, 2020. Saint Denis, France.

A man, blanket on his back in the middle of the camp which goes up in smoke. Dismantling of the Saint Denis refugee camp. November 17, 2020. Saint Denis, France.

A member of the Utopia 56 association notes the names of the people present to organize labris. After the evacuation of the lock camp in Saint Denis two days ago, between 800 and 1000 refugees are wandering around the capital. They could not get on the buses for lack of space. They were chased away from Saint Denis by the police and have no place to sleep since, the tents having been destroyed during the dismantling.

Two men in charge of the security of the Rosa Park shopping complex come to intimidate the refugees with their dogs to ask them to leave. Local residents complain about the return of re- fugees to this distribution point, which becomes a point of attachment. The two guards come at the request of the director of the center. November 19, 2020. Paris, France.

A man eats a meal distributed by an association. After the evacuation of the lock camp at Saint Denis Those who could not get on the buses due to lack of space. They were driven from Saint Denis by the police and have no place to sleep since, the tents having been destroyed during the dismantling.

Refugees roam the streets after a food distribution in the north of Paris. After the evacuation of the lock camp at Saint Denis Those who could not get on the buses due to lack of space. They were driven from Saint Denis by the police and have no place to sleep since, the tents having been destroyed during the dismantling.