2 new refugee camps opening in Paris by 2017

Two new refugee camps will open in Paris before the year is over, the city's mayor announced Tuesday.

Anne Hidalgo said the camps will be the first built in such a dense, urban zone, The Huffington Post reports. The shelter for single men will open in Paris' 18th arrondissement, offering meals, clothing, and temporary housing, before the men move to longer-term housing. That 400-bed shelter was originally scheduled to open in June, but the opening date was pushed back to October due to slow construction. The second camp is for single women and families, and will be located outside of the city. It will house 350 people, and is expected to open before the end of the year.

Since 2015, more than 15,000 migrants and refugees have made their way to Paris, with some setting up camp in public areas, like under train tracks. "They are unhealthy and dangerous, and the migrants are living under shameful conditions," Hidalgo said. "This has also become a source of disturbance for residents in the neighborhood." There are more than 200 intake facilities and shelters, but they often aren't big enough to help everyone who needs it. The French government says there are around 7,000 people trying to find shelter across the country.

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