The critical phase of the flow of Ukrainian refugees to Belgium has ended, according to Belgian newspaper La Libre Belgique. For the last few weeks, the arrival of Ukrainian refugees into Belgium has stabilised, reaching sustainable levels. Around 100 Ukrainians now turn up to the refugee reception centre in Brussels’ Heysel district.
Belgian authorities continue to revise the number of expected refugees from Ukraine. At the beginning of the war, the government braced for the arrival of as many as 200,000 Ukrainians. In mid-May, this was significantly downgraded to 78,000 by the end of July. At the last count, just 52,000 Ukrainians are reported to be on Belgian soil.
Around 47,000 temporary protection statuses had been issued to Ukrainians in Belgium as of June. 46% of displaced people who needed accommodation were provided temporary housing in Flanders. Another 34.6% found their way to Wallonia, and 3.9% sayed in Brussels.
Only around a quarter of Ukrainian refugees required state housing. Others likely found their own accommodation, relied on the assistance of friends or family, or sought help through private Ukrainian organisations.
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It is hard to calculate just how many Ukrainians have returned home. The process of deregistering is timely and some simply choose to leave without filling out all the necessary documentation.
As of June, some 300 people had officially deregistered from Belgium in order to return home. Another 595 deregistered from their municipalities, either signalling their departure from the country or a move to a different area.
The United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that, across Europe, around 4 million Ukrainians have already returned home, or around 40% of the total refugee population.
