Guides de Routard, which some have compared to a French version of Lonely Planet guides, has created a free guidebook to France for refugees arriving from war-torn countries. The publishers say it’s intended to help refugees or asylum seekers navigate the early days of their new lives.
The guide, with 85 pages, is titled Hello! and is filled with pictures, allowing new arrivals to show it to someone and point at what they need. It covers situations such as hotel lobbies, transportation centers, hospitals, religion, food, banking and phone batteries.
The idea came from Philippe Gloauguen, founder of Routard, who has spoken out strongly against what he says is a lack of action by the French government. He called the government “a pack of cowards” for taking in 100,000 Russian refugees in 1918, but only 24,000 Syrians now. He is also upset that the government has not taken action against some mayors who have refused to take in Muslim refugees.
