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Old August 31st, 2015 #53
Ian Smith son
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Belgium's federal government has pledged to create 5,000 extra places for asylum seekers in migration centres "as quickly as possible", with a further 10,000 to follow by April 2016.

The measure comes as official new figures were made public on Sunday showing the number of people seeking asylum in Belgium has grown from 1,280 in April 2015 to more than 4,000 in August. The government says 60 percent of asylum requests are granted.

Government ministers agreed the increased capacity at a cabinet meeting in Brussels on Aug. 28, in response to the ongoing migrant crisis in Europe.

Belgium's junior minister for immigration, Theo Francken, told reporters at a news conference: "We have decided to increase our operational capacity as quickly as possible because migration is accelerating."

Prime Minister Charles Michel said: "We want to take an approach that is on the one hand firm and rigorous, but also humane."

The 5,000 additional places will bring the total capacity for asylum seekers in Belgium to 28,000 this year, rising to 38,000 in April next year.
Belgium to create 5,000 extra places for asylum seekers - Global Times