In her letter addressed to Belgium’s State Secretary for Asylum and Migration, Nicole De Moor, published today, the Commissioner expresses her concerns about the current situation of individuals seeking international protection in Belgium.
A lack of available accommodation in reception facilities and reported delays with the registration and processing of asylum applications have serious consequences for the human rights of asylum seekers, including their right to health and their access to shelter and other basic needs.
While welcoming the government’s decision to open additional reception centres and to increase human resources, the Commissioner observes that these measures are not sufficient to address the complexity and magnitude of the existing needs. She therefore enquires about the steps that the authorities envisage taking to ensure the provision of accommodation and material assistance to asylum seekers and to address the structural shortcomings in the asylum system in Belgium.