Ariane transit centre in Brussels full: Ukrainians must find their own accommodation

Ukrainian refugees who have been staying in the Ariane transit centre in the Brussels municipality of Woluwe-Saint-Lambert for more than a few days are urgently requested to find alternative accommodation. As long as the number of refugees does not decrease, the emergency reception of newcomers in the centre will be temporarily stopped. This is what Bruzz reports, after the Brussels based medium was able to read a letter from Fedasil, the federal agency for the reception of asylum seekers, addressed to the temporary residents.

The situation in the Ariane transit centre has been known for a while. On the one hand, there is a gradual saturation because the Ukrainians are staying there longer than expected. Almost one in four has been staying there longer than 25 days. The need for additional manpower also contributes to the decision.

"Ariane was set up as a transit centre. The intention is that the refugees stay here for a few nights before a durable solution is found from one of the regions", Joachim Deman, spokesman of the Belgian Red Cross-Flanders, told Bruzz. "In principle, we can manage a situation where our maximum capacity has been reached - as is the case now - but the long stays make it difficult."

Fedasil underlined that the refugees are not accompanied to the door, and that the letter is a voluntary appeal. "The aim is to get the flow going, because it is too slow now. There must be room for new people," said Fedasil spokeswoman Lies Gilis.

In the letter, Fedasil asks Ukrainians to look for a new place to stay themselves, also because the agency cannot refer refugees to enough concrete reception locations. "If you know people with whom you can stay, or find a new place to stay yourself, you will have faster access to permanent residence in Belgium, a residence card and all the social and financial rights that go with temporary protection status," the letter reads.

As long as the refugees are staying in the Ariane transit centre, this is not possible. Moreover, as long as the number of refugees does not decrease, the emergency reception for newcomers in the centre will be temporarily stopped, with an exception for vulnerable groups.

(AHU)

© Belpress