Transcript Document
Reception in Belgium
Federal Agency for the reception of asylum seekers
Fanny François, Director Reception Network
Reception in Belgium
Fedasil: core business Reception of asylum seekers
Unaccompanied minors
Voluntary return Reception policy Integration of the centres in their neighbourhood European Refugee Fund
Reception in Belgium
Fedasil: key figures Agency created in May 2002 1,200 workers Expenditure in 2013= 320 Mi € current number of reception places: 21,400
The reception crisis
The reception crisis
2008 - 2011 Increase of asylum applicants (mostly Balkan) Occupancy rate exceeding 100% Opening of emergency reception facilities Reception in hotels (meant as short-term solution)
From May 2009 till December 2012
Around 1,000 people have been accommodated in hotels in Brussels
The reception / asylum crisis Asylum applications: figures 2006 - today 30.000
25.000
25.479
20.000
15.000
10.000
11.587
11.115
12.252
17.186
19.941
5.000
0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 21.463
2012 12.500
2013
10.000
20.000
18.000
16.000
14.000
12.000
26.000
2005
24.000
22.000
14.963
2006
The reception crisis
Evolution de l'occupation du réseau d'accueil depuis début 2005 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 MAX. 23.507 25/05/2012
23.145
21.382
2013
20.824
18.164
16.281
14.963
15.936 25/09/2013
12.900
Occupation totale (y compris accueil d'urgence)
Occupation capacité structurelle
Seuil de saturation
MIN. 11.545 16/07/2007
The reception crisis
Consequences/ repercussions More than 12,000 people without a reception place Fedasil has been repeatedly condemned by the Labour court Fedasil had to pay a fine to asylum seekers who were not taken care of
Out of the crisis
enlarging the reception capacity
30.000
25.000
20.000
21.543
15.000
10.000
15.875
16.094
15.809
16.061
18.684
5.000
21.412
24.026
0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Out of the crisis
Integrated asylum and reception policy 1 State Secretary for Asylum, Migration and Social Integration (since December 2011) Harmonisation of asylum + reception agencies More staff : to accelerate the handling of the asylum applications to turn down asylum application backlog
Out of the crisis
Restricting the inflow into the reception network Legal adaptations 2011 No (automatic) reception for multiple asylum applications List of ‘safe countries’: accelerated asylum procedure Dissuasive campaigns in countries of origin
Out of the crisis
Investing in a broader and better assistance for voluntary return Third new step in the reception model: a 30 days stay in a reception centre for voluntary return Staff member for voluntary return in each reception centre Voluntary return counter at dispatching service (from the beginning of their stay)
Out of the crisis
Voluntary return: key figures
6.000
962 5.000
4.000
302 3.000
2.000
1.000
2.811
2.593
2.669
2.659
2.957
3.358
4.694
172 3.754
0 2006 2007 2008 Voluntary return (via Fedasil) 2009 2010 2011 2012 Voluntary return (by Immigration Office) 2013
Out of the crisis
occupancy rate today: 71% 100,0% 95,0% 90,0% 85,0% 80,0% 75,0%
95,1% 93,1% 91,0% 89,1% 87,2% 85,0% 83,5% 80,9% 78,8% 76,7% 74,7% 72,8% 71,0%
70,0% 65,0% 60,0% 55,0% 50,0% sept-12 oct-12 nov-12 déc-12 janv-13 févr-13 mars 13 avr-13 mai-13 juin-13 juil-13 août-13 sept-13
Reception in Belgium
Reception in three steps First step: stay in collective reception centre (during 4 months) Second step: stay in individual reception facilities Third
new
step: stay in a reception centre for voluntary return (during 30 days)
Reception in Belgium
48 reception centres: locations in Belgium
Reception in Belgium
Reception centres (first step) material aid: basic needs (food and shelter) providing assistance daily occupation / school
Reception in Belgium
Reception centres: providing assistance Medical assistance Legal assistance Psychological assistance Social assistance
Reception in Belgium
Individual housing (second step) Furnished private lodging Material aid Providing assistance
Reception in Belgium
Reception facilities: a mixed population
Reception centres population Adults in family Minors in family
(accompanied)
Isolated women Isolated men Unaccompanied minors Continental origin of the residents Europe * 50% Africa 28% Asia 21% Stateless and undetermined 1%
* Citizens of Russia, Turkey and countries of Caucasus are included in 'Europe'
Reception in Belgium
Top 5 nationalities: Afghanistan (12,5%) Guinea (10,5%) Russia (9%) Congo DR (7%) Serbia (3,5%)
Specialized reception facilities
Reception model for UMA
A three-step reception 1. Observation and orientation 2. Collective reception facilities 3. Individual housing, supervised autonomy
Who?
Mainly asylum seekers Mostly boys (nearly 80%) Top 5 nationalities: – Afghanistan – Guinea – DR of Congo – Iraq – Somalia
Step 1 : OOC
Observation and Orientation centre:
2 x 50 places
‘ Green ’ Observation and Orientation centre :
30 places
Step 1 : OOC
Open centre Reception for all UMA: – provides the 1st reception, – offers an adaptation period – permits to make a psychosocial analysis - orientation – permits the Guardianship Service to identify the UMA and to assign a guardian. Period of 15 days renewable only once (max 1 month)
Step 2 : collective reception
The UM Asylum seeker is accommodated in the Fedasil network The UM non-Asylum seeker is accommodated by the Communities : specialized reception
Step 2 : collective reception
Open collective reception centre Supervision of the UMA 24/7 Social and medical assistance,… Individual follow-up Schooling Together with the minor and the help of his guardian a follow-up project and his autonomy are prepared.
Period : 4 months to 1 year
Specializations in collective centres
UMA mothers or pregnant girls (30 places) Time Out (10 places) Mental disorders (15 places) Children from 8-9 years to 14 years old (15 places)
Step 3: individual reception
If the UMA is still entitled to benefit material assistance : local reception facilities with supervised
autonomy
House, flat, separated rooms Easy access via public transport In the neighbourhood of collective reception centres
Step 3: individual reception
Offers more individual help and supervision This stay is a transition period but offers the necessary tools to acquire full autonomy. Currently, we are in need of individual housing for UMA
Number of facilities UMA 2003 - 2013
1400 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 20 03 20 04 20 05 20 06 20 07 20 08 20 09 20 10 20 11 20 12 20 13 third step second step OOC
Challenges 2014 - 2018
Downsizing reception facilities More specialized reception facilities (medical care, mental disorders,…) for persons with specific needs Individual housing for UMA Quality standards for all reception facilities International /European platforms, studies, benchmark etc.
…