The reception crisis in Belgium is concerning and has now lasted more than two years, leaving many asylum seekers without a roof over their heads and access to basic provisions such as drinking water, sanitation and medical assistance.
Petit Château arrival centre in Brussels, Belgium.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency considers access to appropriate reception conditions for asylum-seekers—from the presentation of their claim to the final decision—to be fundamental to fair and effective asylum procedures and a prerequisite to ensure effective access to international protection for people in need. With coordinated and long-term action by all actors – federal, regional and municipal – it is possible to ensure sufficient, safe and dignified reception for all people fleeing war, violence and persecution.
The crisis is due to a complex combination of factors. One of the reasons is the limited flexibility in the reception system. Due to a decrease in asylum applications in previous years, several reception centres closed, and reception capacity was reduced. As a consequence, because there are insufficient reception places available in the reception network, Fedasil was not equipped to deal with the increase of asylum seekers since the end of 2021. This in turn means that asylum seekers cannot move on quickly enough from the Petit-Château arrival centre to other reception centres in Belgium, which ultimately results in many people ending up on the streets.
In addition, the sometimes long process time of the status determination procedures in Belgium also means that asylum seekers awaiting a decision occupy reception places that would otherwise become available for newcomers.
Moreover, after having received a positive decision, it is often a challenge for recognised refugees to find their own accommodation due to the acute shortage of affordable and social housing. This prevents them from leaving reception centres, thus occupying beds intended for asylum seekers.
Other factors such as the unexpected arrival of more than 70,000 refugees from Ukraine since the start of the war, the challenges of mobilizing resources and staff or the resistance that may exist including at the local level to welcome refugees, are also among the many complex and intertwined factors that increase the pressure on the reception network.
UNHCR is concerned about the declining mental and physical health of thousands of asylum seekers who are forced to sleep outside without access to sanitation, medical screening, vaccines, protection and information. The precarious situation in which many asylum seekers find themselves exacerbates existing trauma that many have already experienced in their countries of origin or en route to Europe.
The importance of providing access to adequate reception conditions is enshrined in national as well as European Union legislation and is therefore an integral part of Belgium’s asylum obligations. UNHCR is equally concerned by the fact that depriving asylum-seekers of appropriate reception, including the above-mentioned support, is undermining the fair and effective nature of their asylum procedure. Without access to basic necessities such as food, a bed and sanitation, it is very challenging for an asylum seeker to be in an appropriate physical and mental state to prepare for the asylum interview.
UNHCR is deeply concerned that in October 2022, the reception of unaccompanied and separated children, as well as families with children, who were considered as priority vulnerable profiles, was no longer always guaranteed. Children who are not identified, not assigned a guardian and not provided with adequate reception conditions are extremely vulnerable as they are highly exposed to risks of abuse, exploitation or even trafficking.
UNHCR regrets the recent decision to temporarily stop providing access to the reception network to single men seeking asylum in Belgium. While it is important that the reception of unaccompanied and separated children, as well as families with children, is guaranteed, access to adequate reception conditions for all asylum seekers, including single men, is essential to a fair and efficient asylum procedure.
The perception has arisen that it may be impossible to solve this crisis. It certainly is not. Collective and coordinated action can address this situation. The speed with which Belgium and its people managed to provide shelter for more than 70,000 refugees from Ukraine shows what can be done with such great and heart-warming decisiveness. UNHCR is hopeful that the unprecedented solidarity and good practice in this context can lead to positive change for all refugees.
UNHCR welcomes the efforts to create more reception places and increase the staff capacity of the asylum instances and acknowledges the difficult context in which Belgian reception instances are operating.
The importance of collaboration should be underlined. All stakeholders at European, federal, regional and local levels must continue to work together to ensure sustainable solutions that can offer dignified living conditions to all applicants, including single men. Through collective and coordinated action by all actors, immediate and long-term solutions are at hand to better protect people fleeing war, violence and persecution
It is therefore essential that the reception network evolves towards greater flexibility, so it can respond to the natural fluctuations of the influx of asylum-seekers. In addition, the establishment of a regularly updated contingency plan, including mitigation measures and adequate funding mechanisms, are key elements of this approach.
UNHCR also reiterates the importance of fast and fair asylum procedures and supports the approach followed by Belgium to make the status determination procedure swifter, yet qualitative, to decrease the average length of stay of asylum-seekers in the reception network This will allow asylum seekers to leave the reception network more quickly and free up places which are destined for asylum seekers who are currently staying in the Petit Chateau arrival centre or in the (crisis) emergency reception.
Lastly, Belgium cannot provide solutions in isolation. Mounting pressure has indeed been observed on the reception networks across several EU Member States. Asylum is, by definition, a cross-border issue that requires joint solutions at the European level. This is further proof that we do need the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum, which represents a real opportunity to define a common ground on asylum matters in the EU.
Belgium is responsible for the protection of asylum seekers and refugees on its territory.
UNHCR’s work in Belgium focuses on supporting authorities and organizations working with refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons by seeking to ensure that legislation, procedures, policies, and practices align with international and European protection standards.
UNHCR seeks to improve reception conditions in Belgium through advocacy, consultation and advice to various government bodies and other relevant actors. UNHCR continues to urge the government to find solutions to the reception crisis and ensure that no asylum-seeker is left behind.
UNHCR undertakes monitoring visits to the arrival centre and various reception centres across Belgium. During these visits, UNHCR talks to residents and all parties involved in reception. This is a structural and essential part of its activities in Belgium.
To facilitate the dialogue between refugees and authorities, UNHCR advocates for a community-based approach in Belgium. As a result, the « Umbrella Refugee Committee » and ten different refugee committees have been established in Belgium, with the support of UNHCR. The refugee committees are involved into policymaking related to asylum policies and practices, including reception. They are also involved in a wide range of activities, in cooperation with state actors in the Brussels region. Together, they now operate a collective center, where asylum seekers are residing in a pre-reception phase, awaiting integration in the Fedasil network.
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