The number of homeless children in France has increased by 120 percent over the past four years, according to a report published today by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

UNICEF France reported that on the night of August 19, at least 2.043 children were homeless, marking a 120 percent increase from 2020. Among these children, 467 are under the age of three. This marks the first time that the number of homeless children has exceeded 2.000, which UNICEF in France described as "alarming".

Pascal Brice, head of the Federation des Acteurs de la Solidarite (FAS), criticized the government for failing to address the issue effectively, despite a commitment made in 2022 to resolve the crisis. Brice called for the immediate removal of these children and their families from their "unworthy situation."

"This continuous increase in the number of homeless children is a tragedy. For the sixth time, our barometer reveals a continuous deterioration of the situation, in flagrant violation of the principles of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, which France has ratified," said Adeline Hazan, UNICEF France president.

UNICEF France and FAS have called on the new French government to increase the number of shelters as promised from January 2024.

The situation has been worsened by the displacement of homeless people in Paris and its surrounding areas ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics, which took place from July 26 to August 11.

The policy has been criticized by human rights organizations and migrant associations for failing to provide permanent housing solutions for those affected. /AA