40 degrees in the Vaucluse. If the heat is painful to bear for some of us, the difficulties accumulate particularly in the popular districts. In Avignon, the inhabitants that France Bleu Vaucluse met south of the ring road complain of poorly insulated housingwithout air conditioning and difficult to ventilate.
“It’s very hard at the moment in the buildings. They are poorly insulated”, Ahmed complains. He has lived for several decades in one of the residences affected by the urban renewal plan which provides for the destruction of dilapidated housing and rehousing. But this plan takes many years to come true and in the meantime heat peaks are particularly difficult to bear.
“We are suffocating”
“It’s warmer in my apartment than outside. If I open the window during the day, I hear the pollution from the trucks circulating on the ring road and at night I hear the noise of scooters, young people, shootings, or still the smell of the sewers coming up and the mosquitoes”says Christine who lives on the fourth floor of an HLM building. “With my two-year-old baby it’s really difficult. We’re suffocating”, complements her friend next to her.
“We just want to get out of here”
To relieve themselves, these men and women from Avignon go to nearby parks. “I go there with my children. Fortunately we have that”says Christina. “Efforts have been made in recent years but more trees are needed”, adds Ahmed. The pool is close to the neighborhood, 10 minutes by car to the nautical stadium. “Yes, but it’s expensive. And we veiled mums can’t go there with our children. But our children have to be watched. We’re told that we have to wear shorts. But we can’t no. It’s a choice”, explains this mother.
Those who can, pay for gasoline to go to the sea. A family is also out of a building with a cooler to get there. The response to our interview request was prompt. “We just want to get out of here”they replied, before rushing into their car.
#suffer #workingclass #districts #Avignon #heat #stifling
