Police in Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe have evicted a group of some 70 sans-papiers from a squat in the Brussels municipality. Some 10 children were among their number. The news comes from the Roza Nera - Zone Neutre collective.
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Up to 70 undocumented migrants, including children, evicted from Brussels squat
Colin Clapson
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According to the collective, which supports undocumented migrants, no alternative shelter for the group is available. They include some 70 sans-papiers from different countries. Some 10 young children are among their number. ‘They come from the Maghreb and sub-Saharan Africa,’ a supporter of the collective noted.
The whole group is now on the street, blocking the road. ‘The atmosphere is calm. But we have received conflicting reports. According to Mayor Olivier Maingain (of Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe), an alternative solution had been found using an events hall in Etterbeek, but now the police say no new reception location is available’ says Alexa, who provides support to the collective.
Seven days' notice not given
The collective is also unhappy with the communication by the building’s owner. ‘Normally, the owner should give the residents seven days' notice notifying them that they intend to carry out a forced eviction, but this did not happen. The residents were completely taken by surprise this morning.’
The group has been squatting in a vacant office building since August. The building is owned by the International Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OCAPS). That organisation had already tried to remove the squatters from the building on several occasions. An attempt to do so in October failed, when a compromise was sought with the mayor of Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe.