This decision, taken in consultation with the Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort, follows the information and opinions issued by the 19 mayors of the Brussels municipalities meeting on Monday in the Regional Security Council (CoReS).
According to Ms Lavaux, the regional authorities thus intend to guarantee optimal coordination between the different levels of power as well as a coherent organization of municipal and regional initiatives on the territory of Brussels.
Management that depends on the event
The activation of a provincial management phase depends on the nature of the event, the magnitude of the situation, its geographical extent, the actual or potential consequences, but also the technical and human resources needed to deal with it.
Concretely, a provincial crisis management means that a Coordination Committee associating “the five disciplines” – relief operations; medical, health and psychosocial assistance; policing duties; logistical support; information to the population and support for the administrative authority – is set up in consultation with the local authorities.
Situation on the needs of the municipalities
The Senior Official brought together the various disciplines on Tuesday morning to take stock of the situation and the current and future needs of the municipalities affected by the crisis, she said Tuesday morning.
The missions of the Coordination Committee consist of evaluating the emergency situation, requesting reinforcements in terms of personnel and equipment, issuing police orders, coordinating relief and anticipating problems.
During these different stages, the Senior Official will ensure the implementation of a communication strategy vis-à-vis the population via various means and channels. As such, a regional information platform will be set up “as soon as possible”.
According to the Senior Official, this is the first time that a provincial phase has been launched in the Brussels-Capital Region.
An unprecedented humanitarian crisis
Ms. Lavaux also indicated that, in accordance with the procedure in force, she informed the Federal Minister of the Interior Annelies Verlinden through the national crisis center.
A communication was also published in the Belgian Official Gazette.
“With the war in Ukraine, the European Union, Belgium and the Brussels Region in particular will most likely be faced with a humanitarian crisis unprecedented since the Second World War. As the first gateway for Ukrainian refugees on Belgian soil, Brussels plays an essential role which requires optimal coordination at all levels. The Region must therefore organize itself in order to welcome these people with dignity on its territory, in the name of solidarity”, commented the Brussels Minister-President Rudi Vervoort.
“Many Ukrainians have already fled their country and the movement will increase in the coming weeks given the violence of the fighting and the fate of the people there. The challenge that the territory of the Brussels-Capital Region is currently facing can be qualified as an emergency situation in accordance with the Royal Decree of 22 May 2019 on emergency planning and management of emergency situations. Consequently, the management of such a situation requires strategic coordination, in particular of municipal and regional initiatives and resources, as well as the support of emergency and intervention services (SIAMU, emergency medical aid, police services , civil protection, STIB, defence, etc.)”, underlined for her part Sophie Lavaux