How is the reception of Ukrainian refugees organized in Toulouse? The Russian invasion began three weeks ago. More than three million people have fled the country. Some refugees have arrived in France: 13,500 according to the latest figures from the Ministry of the Interior. In Toulouse, a gymnasium has been requisitioned since Thursday March 10 for emergency reception. About 120 Ukrainians stayed in this space fitted out for the occasion.
A very temporary welcome
About fifty cots have been set up in the gymnasium. Movable partitions have been put in place to recreate some privacy. Volunteers from the Red Cross and the Order of Malta distribute meals. There are large tables, chairs and toys for the children. The town hall has installed wi-fi access to enable refugees to hear from relatives who have remained in the country or who have fled abroad.
The purpose of this gymnasium is to provide a very temporary welcome according to Sacha Briand, deputy mayor of Toulouse in charge of finance and aid to Ukraine: “We have practically no information on the number of people likely to arrive by train, nor on those who come by their own means: some came from Ukraine by car. We are therefore informed at the last moment. If thirty people arrive at the station at 10 p.m., we cannot call the individuals who have volunteered to ask if we can take them home, so this gym aims to be able to accommodate at the last moment, very quickly, when we don’t I don’t have time to find other solutions to then direct towards the system that has been put in place with the various partners and in particular with the State.
Refugees quickly oriented towards more suitable structures
In a second step, the refugees are oriented towards more comfortable accommodation structures, which can accommodate families. These places have been made available to the State by the city of Toulouse and by Toulouse Métropole and will be managed by partner associations. There are four in Toulouse and in the agglomeration. These structures can offer up to 130 places.
It is only afterwards that the refugees are directed towards individuals who have made offers of accommodation: the town hall has selected more than 700 who will make it possible to accommodate 1,200 people. Choices have been made, according to Sacha Briand: “We had to respect a minimum of conditions, in particular. It is not a question of accommodating people on the sofa in the living room, but that they have at least a room of their own to be able to have privacy.”
According to Sacha Briand, “200 to 250 Ukrainians arrived in Toulouse” and were supported by state services. A figure that does not take into account Ukrainians, those who have arrived with relatives and who have not yet requested temporary protection from the Haute-Garonne prefecture.