Belgium's Royal Family Will Host Ukrainian Refugees in Royal Properties
The United Nations estimates that more than three million people have fled Ukraine since the Russian invasion nearly a month ago. While the majority of refugees have ended up in neighboring countries like Poland, Romania, and Moldova, thousands have reached countries in Western Europe, including Belgium.
Belgium expects around 200,000 Ukrainians will seek refuge in their country, per Politico, and Belgian's royal family is stepping up to help. Per the Royal Trust, a charity created over a century ago to manage the royal's family assets, three royal family properties will become available for housing for Ukrainian refugees in early April.
The locations include two properties in Wallonia and Brussels, and one in Tervuren which formerly served as a vaccination center.
"These are accommodations whose original purpose was to be made available to social agencies to accommodate people on low incomes, " Jan Smets, president of the Royal Trust, said. "That mission corresponds well to what we wish to achieve with the Royal Trust."
"Given the refugee crisis, we will make these house [sic] available for emergency reception," Smets added.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, the Belgian monarchs, have met with Ukrainian refugees in the past two weeks, visiting both a refugee registration center and an emergency shelter.
A spokesman for the Belgian royal family said King Philippe had been moved by his experience visiting with refugees at Heysel refugee center and decided to open his properties.
After visiting the emergency shelter on March 9, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde posted a statement in solidarity with Ukrainians and emphasized the importance of welcoming refugees.
"The war in Ukraine is a humanitarian crisis on a scale not seen in Europe since the Second World War. The anguish of the families we met today is very tangible. Their stories are heartbreaking," the Belgian monarchs wrote. "We are deeply moved by the solidarity of our fellow citizens in welcoming refugees from Ukraine. We express out support for the Ukrainian people and hope that this war will end as soon as possible."
You Might Also Like
