The 70 asylum seekers who have been occupying a building on Boulevard du Roi Albert II in Saint-Josse-ten-Noode since 12 March will all be given the accommodation that they are legally entitled to, after a justice of the peace mediated between the asylum seekers' lawyers and those of the Federal Government on Thursday.
The building, which will become the National Crisis Centre in the future, has been occupied for almost two weeks by a group of some 70 asylum seekers and sympathising citizens. The Belgian Buildings Agency went to the justice of the peace to have the building vacated.
"The justice of the peace has made a decision and creates clarity," said State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor. "It is good that the justice of the peace confirmed our proposal from a week ago. There are places in the Brussels Regional emergency shelter where these people can be accommodated."
Some of the asylum seekers will be accommodated in Fedasil centres, others in accommodations managed by the Brussels-Capital Region.
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She added that it is "a pity" that the occupiers did not take the authorities up on their offer and went to the emergency shelter. "They have until Monday 27 March to leave the building. I hope it will not have to come to an eviction."
However, the asylum seekers were advised not to take the offer De Moor referred to before knowing for sure if they would receive accommodation or if they would simply end up back on the streets, as had been the case in previous instances.
The collective Stop the Shelter Crisis speaks of a victory for the asylum seekers. "Earlier, they refused an offer of emergency accommodation by the region because there was no guarantee that it would last longer than 28 days."
"The justice of the peace's mediation procedure ensured that the Federal Government does now give this guarantee," the collective added. "The asylum seekers have therefore decided to accept the offer from the Building Agency, which represents the Federal Government in this case."
