These are standards that Fedasil, the federal agency responsible for the reception of asylum seekers, imposes itself and other operators. This is evident from figures requested by De Standaard.
There are eight reception centers in West Flanders: Langemark-Poelkapelle, Koksijde, Alveringem, Bredene, Jabbeke (operated by Fedasil) and Wingene, Menen and Brugge (operated by the Red Cross).
Different families together
In principle, each resident must have at least four square meters of sleeping space and each room must be at least eight square meters in size. Each family must have a separate room. Last year, in half of the centers that Fedasil itself operates, several families shared a room together. Sometimes it is the only way to guarantee that every family can get a place, says Fedasil spokesperson Benoit Mansy.
Unaccompanied minors
Fedasil says it also struggles with separately housing unaccompanied minors, cleanliness of rooms and common areas, outdated infrastructure and child safety in older buildings.
An annual inspection is followed by a report with concrete recommendations. The agency also identifies the centers with the greatest risks, which it then tries to tackle as a priority. Fedasil cannot say how often the standards are not met in how many centers. It is also not possible to disclose what the precise minimum standards are: annual reports are not available for inspection. Information about the conditions in the 65 other centers of external partners is difficult to obtain and is intended for internal use, it said.