Despite its recent official closure, an emergency village set up for Ukrainian refugees in Antwerp is still home to more than 100 people. Three Ukrainian families have now received eviction orders, the city’s mayor said on Monday.
A total of 116 Ukrainian refugees are still living in Antwerp’s emergency village, which officially closed its doors on 24 January. The village was set up in April 2022 on the left bank of the Scheldt to provide short-term accommodation. At its peak, it housed 778 Ukrainian refugees.
Residents were informed of the impending closure of the village at the end of 2023, but the search for new housing proved very difficult for some. On the day of the closure, more than 300 people remained in the shelter.
Nine families await court decision
Antwerp’s mayor, Els van Doesburg, told a city council committee meeting on Monday that 12 families had still not found alternative accommodation. Their cases have been referred to the Peace Court, which has since ordered the eviction of three families. The eviction notices have not yet been served or carried out.
Nine other families are still awaiting a decision from the Peace Court. The remaining residents have found new accommodation or have the prospect of doing so in the near future, van Doesburg said in response to a question from city councillor Joke Laukens.
