Marseille faces a growing street crack crisis and humanitarian emergency

A resident of an old stone building in Marseille’s trendy city centre describes daily challenges of moving past clusters of homeless people who openly consume crack outside her door. The area, once known for its cosmopolitan vibe, now endures nightly noise, confrontations and, at dawn, strong smells and streets littered with trash, clothing and food waste. Local charities, coordinated through the Tempo project initiated by Médecins du monde, label the situation a "humanitarian crisis" as crack consumption among the most vulnerable has risen sharply in the centre, a pattern previously confined to the northern quarters.

In a recent communiqué, the coalition outlined dozens of immediate measures, emphasizing the need for emergency housing, stronger access to medical care and additional funding. They are urging municipal and national authorities to act quickly to address the escalating public health and safety concerns.