Police in France on Wednesday removed dozens of migrants, including families with young children, from the forecourt of Paris City Hall as the capital prepares to mark 100 days to the start of the Olympic Games.

According to the Associated Press, at dawn, police intervened to relocate approximately 50 individuals, predominantly women and children aged between 3 months and 10 years, who were sleeping in the plaza. They were bundled up in strollers, under blankets, or protected by plastic sheets to shield themselves from the rain.

The migrants gathered their belongings and were transported by bus to temporary housing provided by the local government in Besançon, located in eastern France.

Aid workers are concerned that the move Wednesday is the beginning of a broader effort by Paris authorities to clear out migrants without providing longer-term housing options.

Olympics organisers have said they are working with aid groups to find solutions for those in the streets, including the many people who come from around the world to Paris seeking refuge or employment.

Many of the families are from French-speaking African countries, including Burkina Faso, Guinea, Ivory Coast and Senegal. They have been sleeping beneath the ornate facade of the Paris monument for days, weeks and some even for months.