Last week, 350 people from Ukraine filed an application for temporary protection here in the Grand Duchy. This represents a decrease as previous weeks saw thousands such applications filed.
Since the beginning of the war, the immigration offices have received 4,000 demands, out of which 1,040 have already been granted, conveyed Minister Asselborn.
So far, people have been housed in 17 different buildings. These structures mainly consist of hotels, which are spread across the country. Asselborn explained that 90% of refugees are also Ukrainian citizens. However, the politician underlined that people fleeing Ukraine without citizenship are as deserving of our help as others.
MP Fernand Kartheiser from the Alternative Democratic Reform Party (ADR) questioned this position in a meeting of the respective Chamber commission. He enquired how many refugees from Ukraine, who arrived in Luxembourg, lacked citizenship.
Minister Asselborn explained that this affects 11% of those who came to the Grand Duchy, meaning about 400 out of 4,000 people. The ADR politician believes that each individual case should be analysed to determine whether or not a person really has no other place to go to than Luxembourg.
Minister Asselborn replied that every person who wants to go back to their country of origin will receive support to do so. He also stressed that he made sure people are not refused at the border just because they lack a passport, have a different skin colour, or practice a different religion.
Video report in Luxembourgish
Since the beginning of the war, the National Bureau for Admission (ONA) has recruited 40 additional people to help process demands. Thus far, 80% of beds in centres for first arrivals are occupied.
MP Nathalie Oberweis from the Left praised private people for taking in Ukrainian refugees. The politician drew attention to the fact that during previous refugee crises, cooperation between private households and government institutions was not up to scratch, which is why she welcomes the new approach.
The Christian Social People’s Party (CSV) argues that municipalities, which have set up large structures for refugees, should receive direct support. MP Martine Hansen believes that administrative procedures have to be simplified so that buildings can be freed up in more efficient manner.
Minister Asselborn concluded by saying that people who fled Ukraine can benefit from free medical consultations at the ‘Maison Médicale’ on Val Fleuri in Strassen. People do not need to pay a bill, regardless of whether they have insurance or not. Once temporary protection is granted, ONA will cover medical expenses.
Video report in Luxembourgish
