The Prefect of Seine-Saint-Denis, the Parisian suburb which has the highest proportion of migrants, is concerned that “hunger riots” could break out in the area due to a decline in the economic situation as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown.

Georges-François Leclerc, the department’s Prefect, voiced his concerns about the risk of starvation threatening the region’s inhabitants in an e-mail he wrote to Michel Cadot, the Prefect of Île-de-France, on April 18, as reported by the news magazine Marianne.

Well over 50% of Saint-Denis’ residents under 18 are of foreign origin, and it has been estimated that as much as 20% of the department’s population are illegal migrants. It is also the poorest department in all of France.

“My main concern in the coming weeks, putting aside the health risk, is the food risk,” Leclerc wrote, estimating that between 15,000 and 20,000 residents would have difficulty being able to obtain food. The people at risk include those in the slums, those who stay in emergency housing, and migrant workers.

Leclerc said that the collapse of the black market, the decrease in demand for Uber drivers, and rampant unemployment among temporary workers — all brought about by the ongoing lockdown — has led to a dangerous loss of income for residents, many of whom were already barely at subsistence level.

Leclerc mentioned similar concerns about the neighboring department of Val-d’Oise.

Most at risk for starvation are children and middle-school students. They are usually fed at their school canteens, but the schools have also been closed due to the lockdown.

Leclerc also indicated that the government is not distributing enough food vouchers for soup kitchens to the neediest, claiming that the number needs to be doubled. He pointed out that there are increasing numbers of unemployed workers joining the regulars at soup kitchens. “What could be managed during one month of confinement will not be enough in two,” he wrote.

The national government seems to have recognised the danger, as it is increasing the payments made to recipients of social benefits from May 15, and the city government has promised that the number of food vouchers will be doubled.

The situation in the Parisian suburbs is already tense, with attacks on police and other first responders on the increase in recent weeks, as previously reported by Voice of Europe.

voiceofeurope.com/2020/05/france-saint-denis-concerned-about-hunger-riots/