Paul Barbar

The center of Fedasil in Koksijde is located on the territory of the military air base, these are the buildings of military barracks. But earlier I saw rabbits more often than military ones. Therefore, I was interested in the announcement that the airbase opens its doors to visitors. You will see the F-16 and will be able to sit in its cabin. Also, in the hangar there is a large helicopter, which turned into a museum exhibit. The military will conduct a tour and answer questions. Nearby military helicopters will take off and land, and this is a beautiful sight. The military from the air base are knowledgeable. They know a lot about the local military conflict that happened in my homeland. Because this is a story about NATO’s military opponents. Employees of the air base told me that the army is not popular in Belgium, and the Belgians do not understand why they should spend money on the maintenance of the armed forces, because there has not been a war here for more than 70 ye

The Fedasil Center in Koksijde closes in less than two weeks. Soon refugees will leave for other places. It seems that the mayor of Koksijde has achieved his goal. It’s bad that Fedasil employees will lose their jobs. I hope they find another job soon. Or another Fedasil center will open nearby, not in Koksijde. These people have done a lot for us. Thanks to everyone who helped us and supported us in difficult times. Thanks to those who participated in the protest . As for me, my wife and I will try to find a job, as well as rent inexpensive housing. I have a philologist diploma, and my wife is an engineer, but now we will forget about our diplomas and are ready to work on any job, for survival. For example, cleaning or in greenhouses on farms. Also, we worked as volunteers in a nursing home (verpleeghuis), so we have experience in caring for older people - for example, those suffering from dementia. We did a coronavirus test - it's negative. If you can offer us a job

Today, refugee children went to school - the first time since the police stopped blocking the Fedasil Center in Koksijde. This was made possible thanks to the protests of refugees and Belgians who supported them . Respecting children's right to education was one of the demands of protesters.

The refugee protest in Koksijde ended in victory - the police unblocked the center of Fedasil. Refugees returned freedom of movement. Now they are not prisoners. Today at 17:00 it was announced that the test results of 40 refugees had come from the laboratory - all of them negative. After this news people went to the gate and began to knock, demanding that they be released. On the other side of the fence were Belgians who supported the protest. The police left , the gates opened, the celebration began. The inhabitants of the Refugee Reception Center have no civil rights. They came to another country. They do not know language well. But the Belgians helped us. Volunteers and Fedasil employees supported us. We will never forget this. Journalists came and talked about us . Thank you! It gives us hope, and hope is the only thing we have now. 1. Volunteers and refugees after release. 2. 3. 4. Refugees make a poster. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Volunteers came to the gates of the Koksijde Refugee Reception Center. At 18:00 a silent protest began against the blocking of refugees. Yesterday and today, Belgian media report on the events in Koksijde, but at the moment the situation has not changed - the police still forbid refugees to leave the center. People still actually live in prison. I think that officials are now trying to present the situation as if a solution has been found and everything is fine - in order to reduce the resonance. Therefore, it is so important to show that nothing has ended and we are still at the same point as a week ago. Volunteers near the gate. Refugees on the other side of the fence. Police are watching this from their car.

I can get tested for coronavirus. But I do not agree to show the test results to the policeman in order to move around freely. The mayor of Koksijde, Marc Vanden Busche, wants this, but I won’t do it. Today, refugees in the center of Fedasil Koksijde were offered to undergo voluntary independent testing. Not everyone, but only 40 people, in a small group from each floor of the buildings located there. Everyone came voluntarily. None of them have symptoms - they just want to know. The testing was organized by Fedasil, and not by the mayor of Koksijde, who only talk on this topic, but did nothing . Independent voluntary testing in one of the best laboratories in Belgium is very good. No one was forced to participate in testing. Doctors demonstrated the name of the test they used. This is a PCR test that does not detect antibodies, but the presence of virus at the moment. This is not an express test when the results are known after three hours, but a more serious laboratory test.