Paris' Gaîté Lyrique Closes as 250 Migrants Occupy Venue Seeking Shelter
The cultural center faces financial strain and calls for urgent action as state and city authorities fail to provide solutions for the displaced minors.
- Approximately 250 unaccompanied migrant minors have occupied the Gaîté Lyrique cultural center in Paris since December 10, seeking emergency housing solutions.
- The venue announced its closure to the public due to the occupation, citing significant financial losses and operational disruptions.
- The management of the Gaîté Lyrique supports the migrants' demands for shelter but highlights the inappropriateness of the venue for long-term accommodation.
- Tensions have grown as state and city officials dispute responsibility for addressing the situation, with no immediate resolution in sight.
- The venue has appealed to Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo for urgent moral and logistical intervention, emphasizing the dangers of leaving the migrants without shelter in freezing conditions.