these eastern cites are now economically and ethnically segregated from central paris the peripheral suburbs are characterized by poverty a high share of public housing and low education levels labourers and the unemployed are overrepresented among households in this region clerval et delage and many of the residents are algerian moroccan and subsaharan african immigrants or descendants the french government has labelled of these neighborhoods zones urbaines sensibles sensitive urban zones which makes them a highpriority target for policy intervention