2008 was an eventful year for the Federal Agency for the Reception of Asylum Seekers. The number of asylum seekers that were legally qualified for reception continually increased throughout the year, causing our reception capacity to reach record levels. Fedasil and its partners made every possible effort to keep providing a quality reception and assistance for every asylum seeker.
Fedasil and the CGRS (Office of the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons) have jointly published, with the support of the European Refugee Fund, a film and an information brochure 'Asylum in Belgium'.
Fedasil has published a leaflet in English which explains the reception of asylum seekers in Belgium.
The decreasing number of asylum applications in 2013 led to fewer voluntary returns in 2014.
In 2016, 232 refugees, all Syrian, have already been received in Belgium as part of the resettlement programme. Prior to their departure and up to their settlement, they are supported by various stakeholders.
At the end of February, Fedasil went to Beirut to meet the Syrian refugees selected for resettlement in Belgium in 2016.
Belgium was committed to resettling 300 Syrian and Congolese refugees in 2015.
Today, 106 Iraqis voluntarily returned to Iraq on a charter flight organised by Fedasil and IOM.
4,053 people decided to return voluntarily to their country of origin in 2015, including a number of Iraqis.
The selection of 300 refugees for resettlement in Belgium is coming to an end. They will arrive from October onwards, after completing a cultural orientation course.