site.btaBelgium Halts Asylum Applications for Syrians

Belgium has temporarily halted the processing of asylum applications from Syrian nationals, local media reported, citing a decision by the refugee office on Monday.

"The situation in Syria remains too unstable to assess the safety of return for Syrians who have fled abroad," said Olivier Brasseur, a spokesperson for the Commissioner General for Refugees and Stateless Persons, referring to the events following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad.

Brasseur explained that Belgian authorities will wait for the situation in Syria to stabilize before making decisions on submitted applications. Until then, Syrians seeking protection in Belgium will continue to have the right to shelter, he added.

Over the past decade, Belgium has welcomed approximately 35,000 Syrian refugees, approving 4,725 applications from Syrian citizens last year alone.

Belgium's State Secretary for Asylum and Migration Nicole de Moor said in a media statement: "Refugee status is not permanent."

She added that if the situation in Syria improves permanently, she will ask Belgian authorities to reassess the protection decisions issued to Syrian nationals over the past five years. De Moor noted that Belgium is ready to assist Syrians who wish to return home.