France removed camps that housed Roma near the northern city of Lille on Thursday and deported around 240 others from the southern city of Lyon back to Romania.
In the morning, two makeshift camps were evacuated and dismantled while around 200 people were expelled from approximately “15 caravans,” Villeneuve d’Ascq deputy mayor Maryvonne Girard told Radio France Internationale.
France’s deportation of Roma to Romania drew condemnation from human rights campaigners who said new Socialist President Francois Hollande broke an election promise.
“At least the last president had the honesty to say what was going to happen,” Father Arthur, a Catholic priest who was planning to baptise several Roma children, told the broadcaster. He was referring to former President Nicolas Sarkozy, who destroyed illegal Roma camps in 2010 but was similarly condemned by neighboring countries.
On Wednesday, Interior Minister Manuel Valls said the actions were necessary due to the health risks posed by living in impoverished camps.
“Unsanitary camps are unacceptable,” Valls said, according to Reuters. “Often located in the midst of working class neighborhoods, they are also a challenge to community life.”
But Father Arthur, who also spoke to Reuters, questioned the fate of the Roma including women and children who were evicted near Lille. Some rights groups said there were no moves made to arrange housing or temporary lodging.
“What will become of these families?” he asked. “Everything is being taken away – it’s a breach of fundamental human rights.”
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