Belgium’s Asylum Seeker Crisis: Government’s Winter Plan and Challenges Faced by Hospitals

2023-11-04 13:47:13

Belgium has some 34,000 reception places for asylum seekers, but the network is today saturated. At the end of September, a federal taskforce was set up, including the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Asylum Nicole de Moor, the ministers Petra De Sutter, Georges Gilkinet, Frank Vandenbroucke, Vincent Van Quickenborne (since replaced by Paul Van Tigchelt), Ludivine Dedonder and Annelies Verlinden, as well as Secretary of State Mathieu Michel. As part of a Winter plan, between 2,000 and 4,000 places are sought. On Friday, Moor’s office clarified that this working group had already met twice and that a third meeting is planned.

In his letter, the Minister of Health Frank Vandenbroucke specifies to hospital directors that the reception of asylum seekers must take place in buildings or departments separate from patients and that this only concerns the accelerated reception of beneficiaries. of international protection. It also underlines the temporary nature of the measure, until the summer of 2024. It is unknown at this stage whether financial compensation is planned. There is also the question of the staff supposed to accompany and supervise these asylum seekers.

Questioned by HLN, the heads of the two largest hospitals in Antwerp confirmed having received the letter from Frank Vandenbroucke. However, they show little enthusiasm for the minister’s idea. “The pressure on hospitals and our healthcare is permanent: you cannot expect this sector to resolve a failing asylum policy,” denounces Antwerp alderwoman Els van Doesburg (N-VA).

1699111293
#Minister #Vandenbroucke #calls #hospitals #accommodate #asylum #seekers #Belgium