2023-10-07 05:01:00
In total, Belgium has granted a little more than 75,000 temporary protection certificates since the start of the conflict in February 2022 and the arrival of the first exiles on the territory. However, on October 1, there were only 57,066 registered in the registers of Belgian municipalities. The difference can be explained by two reasons. On the one hand, there are people who have never registered in the municipalities because they did not consider it necessary. On the other hand, there are people who have communicated their departure from Belgian territory or who have been removed because they no longer came forward. Since they are no longer supposed to be on Belgian territory, the authorities remove them from the registers. This represented, at the beginning of the month, a total of 11,066 people (including 117 deaths and 2 Ukrainians who adopted Belgian nationality).
Twenty percent of the 68,000 Ukrainian exiles who arrived in Belgium have returned to the road
The big question
It is currently difficult to know the origin of the people who still arrive in Belgium every day. Are these refugees coming directly from Ukraine, or rather exiles who were already settled in another European country? “This is the big question of the moment, we are trying to determine it,” explains Peter Michiels, the Brussels coordinator. “I mightn’t say it precisely but I heard from several people who had found refuge near the border and who decided to advance a little further into European territory, with the prospect of a long-lasting war” , says Alina, who herself fled Kiev and who now speaks for the exiles in Brussels.
A recent survey of the community shows that around half of the exiles in Belgium intend to settle permanently in their host country. “They began to integrate by learning French or Dutch, by very actively looking for work or accommodation despite the language barrier or the difficulties in convincing the owners,” notes the young woman.
During the summer months, Alina observed many trips back and forth to Ukraine. Many families went to spend a few days in their village of origin to reunite with family left behind or to ensure that their house was still standing despite the bombs. “But these were short trips, lasting a week. Let’s not forget that many women are separated from their husbands who remained fighting in Ukraine. Many children also want to see their dad once more”.
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Let’s not forget that many women are separated from their husbands who remained fighting in Ukraine. Many children also want to see their dad once more
An unequal distribution
A glance at the distribution between regions shows a strong disparity. Flanders hosts 59.11% of exiles registered on Belgian territory. Wallonia accounts for 19.19% of the total, and the Brussels region 21%. “The proportion welcomed in Flanders has remained stable for months, while the gap between Wallonia and Brussels is widening,” notes Peter Michiels, who recalls that the Brussels region welcomes almost double what was initially planned.
In the capital, exiles who fled Ukraine are looking for a place in the real estate market. Most left the collective housing for a period of time made available to them. “Now the buildings which had been mobilized to accommodate Ukrainians are shifting towards other target groups such as asylum seekers,” notes Peter Michiels.
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