Transmigrant centre to open on Monday

Brussels-City will open a reception centre for transmigrants next Monday, city councillor Karine Lalieux (PS) told BX1 TV today. The councillor took the opportunity to blame the federal government for losing control of the situation that has seen migrants en route to the UK sleeping in the city’s Maximilian Park and other areas.

The federal government “has not done anything to deal with the transmigrants in Brussels,” she said. “We have rented building in Evere to open a centre for migrants. This is actually the work of the federal and regional governments, but they are doing nothing.”

The centre will fulfil two needs, said Lalieux (pictured). “First, we want to prevent a ‘jungle’ in Maximilian Park,” she said, referring to the refugee camp in Calais. “And second, we want to provide humanitarian assistance to the migrants.”

Brussels-City will run the centre together with an NGO.

Photo courtesy China Cultural Centre Brussels