Around a dozen children and 15 adults of Slovakian origin were evicted from an Ixelles property, which had been provided by social services (Samusocial), on Wednesday evening. They had been living there since December. “No other accommodation has been offered to them”, said Bernard Devos, General Delegate for Children’s Rights. Over the last few weeks, a dozen other Roma children and their families based around the porte d’Anderlecht have also become homeless. The Slovakian children and their families had been living in a property in rue Fritz Toussaint in Ixelles since December, so they had shelter for the winter months. This was part of a humanitarian convention between Fedasil and Samusocial. However, Fedasil decided to make them leave, and no other accommodation was found.
“The children were going to school and the adults had taken steps to legalise their situation and find work. Just when things were starting to come together, they were thrown out. Zero for the application of Children’s Rights”, said Bernard Devos.
Before occupying the property in rue Fritz Toussaint, the group was squatting in a former factory, which had no running water, electricity, or sanitation.
(Source: Belga)
