This Atlantic seaport, not far from the Spanish frontier, is the center of thousands of Jewish refugees from Belgium and evacuees from France, as well as thousands of non-Jewish French and Belgian refugees As a result, the city looks like a huge camp.
The influx has resulted in severe overcrowding. The Jewish community is trying its best to give shelter to arriving Jewish refugees. Individual Jews are taking refugees into their homes, converting parlors into sleeping quarters. Nevertheless, many are still unable to find lodgings and some sleep in any public building to which they can gain entrance for the night.
Central Jewish organizations in Paris have reserved offices here to be used in case of emergency. These organizations include the Joint Distribution Committee, the HIAS-ICA Emigration Association, the Jewish Colonization Association, the World Jewish Congress and the French Federation of Jewish Societies.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.