Stories 2016

Roma, The Loop

The eviction of the Poissonniers slum, Paris, February 2016.

In the middle of the winter truce, nearly 400 people were evicted from the Porte des Poissonniers, Paris’s largest slum, with no viable rehousing. The camp, between Porte des Poissonniers and Porte de Clignancourt, had at times been home to nearly 400 people. I shared the last days of Pedru, Raluca, Barbra and Dumitru.

February 2016. Paris, Porte des Poissonniers.

01In the middle of the midwinter break, nearly 400 people would be expelled without a viable relocation solution. Some are already packing their bags. Roma slum, 01 February 2016. Porte des Poissonniers, Paris.

02The Roma are protesting against the imminent evacuation of their camp from Porte des Poissonniers. Town hall of the 18th arrondissement of Paris, 01 February 2016.

03A Roma shows his passport. Roma slum, 01 February 2016. Porte des Poissonniers, Paris.

04Raluca Soare (Sun in Romanian) is 25 years old. Today she lives in this slum, installed Porte des Poissonniers for more than six months. But she hopes to get social care for her children. It's his 12th slum. Roma slum, 01 February 2016. Porte des Poissonniers, Paris.

05On the eve of the expulsion, the majority of the families resumed their route in search of a new place to settle. Roma slum, 02 February 2016. Porte des Poissonniers, Paris.

07Barbra also lived in a slum in Italy for 10 years and then in La Courneuve "Here is a lot to come from the shantytown of La Courneuve" She is on the phone with her father who lives in Romania. The latter is worried about his daughter's future. Expulsion is near. Roma slum, 02 February 2016. Porte des Poissonniers, Paris.

08Barbu Francescu is 10 years old, born in Italy, arrived Porte des Poissonniers six months ago. He hopes to be able to settle permanently in France. Roma slum, 01 February 2016. Porte des Poissonniers, Paris.

09A large part of the inhabitants shelter their property to reconstitute a new camp. They are tired of having to rebuild everything, starting from scratch. Bidonville Roms, 02 February 2016. Porte des Poissonniers, Paris.

10Dumitru Sorin comes from the shantytown of La Courneuve. He lived there for a year and a half until the expulsion. He and his family are preparing for the next one. Roma slum, 01 February 2016. Porte des Poissonniers, Paris.

11Bianca is one of the 60 miners listed by the prefecture. Only 8 are in school: families fear evictions that keep their children away from schools. Roma slum, 01 February 2016. Porte des Poissonniers, Paris.

12Expelled, Raluca and his son will go to a hotel in Gennevilliers, for a few days. Porte des Poissonniers, on 03 February 2016 in Paris.

13This morning at 7 am, the security forces proceeded to the evacuation of the occupants of the slum located Porte des Poissonniers. Paris, 03 February 2016.

14Other families were taken by bus to social hotels or accommodation centers in Gennevilliers, Maurepas and Stains for a few days. Bidonville Roma, 03 February 2016. Porte des Poissonniers, Paris.

15Evictions without stable rehousing recreate slums, it is the observation of thirty associations that denounces 25 years of a policy of expulsions costly and ineffective. Bidonville Roma, 03 February 2016. Porte des Poissonniers, Paris.

16An empty hut before the intervention of the police forces. A large number of families had already left the scene the previous day due to rumors of an upcoming evacuation. Of the few 300 to 400 inhabitants, only a hundred people are still there. Bidonville Roma, 03 February 2016. Porte des Poissonniers, Paris.