Thousands of refugees are left to fend for themselves in Belgium

7 organizations made up of Brussels-based BELRefugees, Caritas International, WAX, Humanitarian HUB, Doctors of the World, MSF (Doctors Without Borders) and Vluchtelingenwerk Vlaanderen made a joint written statement on the refugee crisis in Belgium.

According to the statement, until the end of last month, 3,171 asylum seekers were forced to remain on the streets or in areas unsuitable for housing, without the Federal Asylum Reception Agency (Fedasil) granting them a place.

These people, who were not provided with any medical, social and legal services, were supported by NGOs with limited means. These organizations have welcomed 6,000 people since April 2022.

The number of asylum seekers receiving mental health services from the Belgian branch of Doctors Without Borders increased from 5% to 84% between March 2022 and March 2023. The disorders include psychotic disorders, post-traumatic stress and depression, living on the street and insecurity related to homelessness.

At least 50 percent of the refugees stranded on the streets applied to the World Doctors medical consultation. The cause of their illness was recorded as diphtheria, scabies, tuberculosis, measles, due to their lack of access to therapeutic and preventive care.

There has been a long-standing crisis in Belgium over the lack of refuge for asylum seekers.

As the refugee reception centers are full, these people, regardless of their age or gender, are forced to sleep on the street.

Despite the thousands of cases won in the Brussels courts and the numerous precautionary measures issued by the European Court of Human Rights, the Belgian state does not take steps to resolve the crisis. (AA)