Belgian Defence also involved in the care for asylum seekers

The government has adopted a package of measures to provide care and assistance to asylum seekers. As a result, the traditional partners and Fedasil will together create 2,500 additional places for asylum seekers. An agreement in principle was also reached about the deployment of Defence in this framework. In this context, Defence will create new asylum centre places in the very short term. During the start-up phase, it will also offer temporary support for the development and operation of the new sites.

We are facing the greatest refugee crisis since World War II. Since August, Fedasil has been creating three to four thousand additional asylum centre places a month. “In recent weeks, we were able to create just enough places”, says State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Theo Francken. “But we have now reached full capacity due to the continuing influx of refugees and the closure of a number of temporary sites. With winter approaching, the need for additional asylum centre places is now acute. That is why I have asked that Belgian Defence also play a role.”

Exceptional circumstances
Defence will be asked to create new asylum centre places and deploy personnel as temporary support to Fedasil. Defence staff will manage the new locations during the first few weeks, pending the recruitment of sufficient staff by the traditional care partners. “These are exceptional circumstances in which we show society at large that it can count on Defence in times of need”, Defence Minister Steven Vandeput concluded.