Idelco from Zwevezele builds first emergency village
Construction of an emergency village for Ukrainian refugees started on a gravel parking lot next to provincial domain De Nekker and opposite the Nekkerhal in Mechelen. The village has room for more than 600 people, but it can be expanded to 1,000 people if necessary. Within three weeks the first families will move in.
2,400 m2 of living space
The emergency village in Mechelen will consist of about 200 residential units where each family will have approximately 38 m². In addition, a collective living space of more than 2,400 m² will be provided where people can cook, live and relax. Not all residential units have their own sanitary facilities, so more than enough toilets and showers are provided in separate units. There will also be a doctor’s unit on the site.
“It is an immense challenge to find shelter for the 120,000 people who may flee from Ukraine to Flanders,” says Flemish Minister for Society and title-carrying Mechelen mayor Bart Somers (Open Vld).
“this is testing”
“As a government, we are committed to collective shelter, but of course we also have to test how that functions Antwerp and Mechelen will serve as a test. The advantage of this location is that it is available for a long time – for the time being everything is being built up to be able to stand for nine months, it is within walking distance of the city center and next to a recreational area where you can play sports.”
“We have to test what is possible,” adds Flemish Minister of Housing Matthias Diependaele (N-VA). “We want to keep the pressure on the housing market as low as possible, but offer these refugees quality housing. Of the more than 26,000 Ukrainians who arrived in Flanders, more than 80 percent found shelter with family or friends. The emergency villages offer a solution for the other people. “
Entrepreneurial family Ide van Idelco supports financially
The emergency village in Mechelen will cost about 2.7 million euros. 1.2 million of this goes to the installation and delivery of the residential units, a quarter of which is financed by the entrepreneurial family Ide behind the company Idelco from Zwevezele. The remaining 1.5 million euros will be used for utilities, shared living space and the filling of the residential units.
Also plans in West Flanders
There are also plans for the construction of emergency villages in West Flanders. For example, the former Bekaert company site in Ingelmunster. The municipality is in favor of the idea, but would like support for this from neighboring municipalities. The proposal is now being studied. It has not yet been decided whether an emergency village will actually be built there.