🇫🇷 France buses migrants and homeless out of Paris for Olympics

Carrying backpacks and small children, hundreds of people sleeping on the streets of Paris climbed aboard buses surrounded by armed police on Thursday, the latest group of migrants and homeless people to be driven out of the city ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics.

The group of largely African migrants headed for the fringes of the city in buses paid for by the French government and into temporary lodging until at least the end of the Games. While some living on the streets were happy to have a roof over their head for the night, few knew what laid ahead once the world's eyes were off Paris.

French authorities have been tearing apart migrant and homeless encampments for months leading up to the massive global sports event, which is an important moment for President Emmanuel Macron at a time of political turmoil.

The buses Thursday came after three days of protest by hundreds of migrants and other homeless people. They railed against authorities breaking up homeless encampments and demanded better access to temporary housing.

Many of the families relocated by French authorities are from African countries once colonized by the French, including Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Senegal.

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