Luxembourg asylum reception centres approaching capacity

(JB) Emergency reception centres for asylum seekers in Luxembourg risk reaching capacity by the end of September, the government has warned.

But, it could be more than six months before it receives authorisation to install temporary container villages in communes.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday morning, Integration Minister Corinne Cahen explained that the current situation for welcoming asylum seekers was manageable with 398 asylum seekers registered so far this month.

But with people arriving at a rate of up to  30 per day, the situation could very quickly become untennable.

To prepare for a potential influx of asylum seekers, the government has established a first phase response, which will see the creation of:

• 130 beds at the CHL Maternity hospital on the Route d'Arlon (from end of September);
• 300 beds at the former speech therapy centre in Strassen (ready for September 23 2015);
• 220 in the two buildings of the Centre Hospitalier Neuro-Psychiatrique (CHNP) Ettelbrück (available end of October);
• 360 campbeds in tents located in Hall 6 of Luxexpo, available from the beginning of October).

The centres are to house asylum seekers during their first six to eight weeks in the Grand Duchy. 

Container villages

Another part of this phase will see the installation of container villages, capable of housing up to 300 people in three communes in Luxembourg, with the possibility to increase capacity to 600, if needed.

However, the legislative process to enable this type of project to be carried out is expected to take up to a minimum four months. Therefore, the earliest they could be installed would be for mid-2016.

A list of potential sites has bene mooted, which include:

• a 1.6-ha area in Steinfort, alongside the P+R carpark;

• a 3.6-ha site in Diekirch-Herenberg, opposite the army barracks;

• a 2.3-ha site in Mamer next to the European School II and Lycée Josy Barthel.

The containers would measure 20 by 40 feet and would house up to two people, or if demand required, four people.

The villages would include bedrooms with connecting doors for families, living areas, dining areas, kitchen areas, playrooms for children, separate wash areas for men and women, laundry rooms and classrooms.

Each village would have a concierge and nurse available 24/7.

398 asylum seekers received

So far this month, Luxembourg has received 398 people from crisis hit countries like Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan, of which half are Syrians and 13 percent are unaccompanied minors.

The Ministry placed great emphasis on the importance of educating the children in these communities. Special reception classes will be set up in colleges for young people aged 12 to 14 so they can learn the local languages.

Meanwhile, similar classes will be provided in primary schools, with two additional hours offered per child in each commune.

Adults will be offered language classes which will mainly be taught by retired teachers.

According to Education Minister Claude Meisch, there are around 300 refugee children currently in Luxembourg schools. He said that the education system can support up to 900 children.

The next challenge facing Luxembourg, beyond providing temporary reception lodgings, will be to integrate those given refugee status into the country. Minister Meisch said that families would have to be rehoused around the country so as to avoid creating "concentrations" in certain areas.

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